Teenage wonderkid joins Liverpool first-team

Another wonderkid has joined Liverpool's first-team squad.

Unlike his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, Arne Slot isn't as liberal when it comes to giving young players a chance in the senior squad. Slot prefers smaller squads, and less rotation.

We saw how rigid and tight this was during his first season. Even Federico Chiesa barely got an opportunity. But in his second season things are starting to change in a more positive direction.

Slot has given younger players more chances. Rio Ngumoha has been promoted to the first-team and as a result even scored a winner against Newcastle United.

Trey Nyoni also regularly participates in first-team training. Meanwhile, Liverpool's training sessions also regularly incorporate players from the club's U21 team.

This has been a project and effort orchestrated from above. Liverpool are keen to utilise the club's use of academy players in the same way they did under Klopp.

So, earlier in the season academy director, Alex Inglethorpe's office was moved closer to Slot in order for the two of them to be able to be in regular communication.

Meanwhile, there has also been a focus on making sure there are U21 players training regularly with the first-team.

This was the case on Friday afternoon during Liverpool's preparation for the Manchester City game on Sunday with another teenage wonderkid earning a call-up.

On this occasion it was 18-year-old Lucas Pitt, who This is Anfield spotted taking part in the session.

A boyhood Liverpool fan, Pitt has been at the academy for years and he's very highly rated. This season he has been playing for the club's U21 side, mostly starting games as a left-back.

But interestingly, he's predominantly a right-back, which is where he played most of his academy career. In the past he's even been deployed as a centre-back at times last season for the U18 side, which he captained.

So, he's quite a versatile defender and that is perhaps one of the reasons why Slot decided to promote him to the first-team, given he doesn't really have that much depth in that department.

Whether he's done enough to be called-up for the matchday squad against City remains to be seen. Liverpool know it's a huge game on Sunday, especially right before an international break.

Nonetheless, it's a major promotion for Pitt and a huge opportunity for him to be brushing shoulders with the club's first-team stars. Hopefully, it's one he can use to improve and continue his development.

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