/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18210397/175643126.0.jpg)
One of Rafa Benitez's most impressive accomplishments during his time at LFC was his total reconstruction of the club's academy. The cupboard ran bare during his tenure, but has since begun steadily churning out exciting prospects like Raheem Sterling, Suso, Martin Kelly, and Andre Wisdom who have all seen significant first team playing time over the past few years. Throw in the emergence of Jordon Ibe at the end of last year/preseason, and we're looking at another dynamic youngster who could have a real impact.
Since the club seems to have learned its lessons from last summer when disaster in the transfer market meant an over reliance on the kids, we've seen some of LFC's prospects head out on loan in search of consistent playing time. The transfer window isn't closed yet, so we may see a few more names joining the list below.
Jack Robinson - Blackpool
Limited to reserve team matches and spot performances in cups last season, Robinson was a prime candidate to head out on loan and he duly joined Blackpool over the summer. In the second division, Robinson has started every match for Ian Holloway's old club.
League wins over Doncaster and Barnsley sandwiched a loss to Preston North End in the Capital One Cup, and the club drew Middlesborough 1-1 in it's most recent Championship fixture. It's good to see Robinson get consistent playing time, and hopefully he'll make good on the promise he first showed at the Emirates in the spring of 2011.
Michael Ngoo - Yeovil Town
Staying in the Championship, striker Michael Ngoo joined promoted club Yeovil Town as it bids to consolidate its standing in England's second tier.
The towering striker grabbed 15 appearances with Heart of Midlothian in Scotland last year, and this season has seen the Londoner start all four of Yeovil's fixtures. If he wants to retain his place in the side however, Ngoo will need to start bagging some goals as he has yet to get off the mark this season.
Suso - Almeria
We saw Suso's immense potential in spurts last year, and his performances over the summer at the U-20 World Cup were superb. A loan move to newly promoted Spanish side Almeria came with the promise of more playing time at a very high level and, just one match in, seems to be a good fit.
I actually had the chance to watch Almeria's season opening fixture against Villarreal on Monday and Suso was impressive throughout. Stationed in an advanced role on the right, the 19 year old was Almeria's chief creative force. He sprung right back Rafita's overlapping run in the build up to the first goal, assisted Rodri with a pinpoint cross on the second, and should have had a third assist when he whipped a ball across the face of goal but the chance wasn't taken.
Playing time seems a good bet but Suso will need mental toughness to rough out a season in La Liga with a promoted side. Matches against Barcelona and Real Madrid will be great learning experiences, but probably big-time thrashings as well.
Conor Coady - Sheffield United
Like Robinson at Blackpool, Coady has started all four of Sheffield United's matches, three in third division (League 1) play and a loss in the Capital One Cup.
England's U-20 captain has been tipped a serious prospect for sometime now. It'd be nice to see consistent playing time jump-start his development into Lucas's understudy.
Henoc Mukendi - Partick Thistle
The young Congolese-born attacker is on loan in the Scottish top-flight with newly-promoted Partick Thistle. Mukendi was an unused substitute in the club's first match, got a 20-minute run out as a substitute in a Scottish Cup tie, and has since not made the 18 in either of the club's last two games.
Kristjan Adorjan - FC Groningen
Ahhh where the Gremlin first broke into Europe, FC Groningen is a comfortably established side of the Dutch Eredivisie.
We haven't seen much of Adorjan in a Liverbird, and FC Groningen's supporters haven't seen much of him either. Not in the 18 for the club's first two matches, Adorjan was an unused substitute in Groningen's most recent fixture against SC Cambuur-Leeuwarden.
Pepe Reina - Napoli
I felt obligated to include Pepe on this list even though his move to Napoli looks the start of a permanent departure rather than with his Liverpool future in mind.
The club hasn't played a competitive fixture yet under Rafa Benitez, but kicks off its season against Bologna this weekend with Reina expected to start in goal.
Loading comments...