11-goal striker closing in on Liverpool first-team

An exciting 11-goal forward is closing in on joining Liverpool's first-team.

The club's forward line is in disarray at the moment. Alexander Isak is out with a long-term injury, Federico Chiesa has a knock, which means Liverpool are relying on Hugo Ekitike.

The French star is a sensational player. However, he can't play every three days or so. That's going to take a lot of toll in his body that is still developing and growing.

Liverpool need to find a solution to not overburden Ekitike. The transfer market is open and there is an opportunity for Richard Hughes to buy a third striker.

However, Liverpool do not seem to have such intentions. It seems as though they are content with not buying players in January.

So that leaves only one other possible option, and that is to call someone up from the academy and get them to join the first-team.

Liverpool's academy is littered with talented young forwards. Jayden Danns, Will Wright and Josh Sonni-Lambie all have exciting potential.

But right now there is only one player who is closing in on joining the first-team and that is Keyrol Figueroa.

The 19-year-old has always been highly rated by the club's academy coaches. He has suffered a few injuries along the way but he's been involved with the U18s since he was 15-years-old and had been touted as massive prospect at the time.

The son of former Honduran international and Hull City and Wigan Athletic player, Maynor, he is a proper poacher.

Unlike his dad who was a defender, Figueroa is a striker with a keen eye for goal.

He's currently the top-scorer in the Premier League 2 with 11 goals in just 12 games and averaging a goal every 54 minutes spent on the pitch.

Figueroa is not the tallest forward, nor the quickest. But he has great instincts, an excellent leap and he is relatively strong.

He still needs to get stronger and improve even more with his back to goal. But if he does that, he could become a formidable forward because he does the hard part of being a striker so well - he scores goals.

Under Jurgen Klopp, we saw time and time again that players like Figueroa would be rewarded for their good form at academy level and be allowed to join the first-team, especially when there was a genuine need and lack of depth in their position.

Slot needs to do this as well. Based on Figueroa's form, he's definitely closing in on joining the first-team. He may not be the finished article but he definitely deserves an opportunity.

Playing him is better than running Ekitike ragged and then risking an injury for him, which means you're left with nobody else to play.

🔴 Shop the LFC 2025/26 adidas home range

👉🏻 A new centre-back is COMING to Liverpool

👉🏻 Liverpool finally replace Trent Alexander-Arnold with brilliant playmaker

👉🏻 Centre-back confirms he's ready to join Liverpool