Here we go, the next Steven Gerrard is coming to Liverpool soon

A new Liverpool wonderkid very much looks like the next Steven Gerrard and he's on his way to the first-team soon.

Liverpool's former No.8 was pretty much everything supporters could want from a captain.

Steven Gerrard wasn't just one of the club's greatest-ever midfielders. He became the embodiment of what Liverpool stood for. Passion, commitment, leadership and unbelievable ability all rolled into one player.

What made Gerrard so special was his ability to drag Liverpool through difficult moments. Whether it was a huge tackle, a powerful run through midfield or a perfectly weighted pass, he always seemed capable of producing something when the team needed it most.

And that was the difference with Gerrard. He wasn't someone who only turned up when Liverpool were playing well. Quite often, he was at his best when everything was going wrong and somebody needed to take responsibility.

Then, of course, there were the goals.

Whenever Gerrard stood over a free kick or picked the ball up 25 or 30 yards from goal, you always felt something was about to happen. He could absolutely smash a ball into the top corner, but he also had the technique to curl one beyond the goalkeeper.

The best part was that he seemed to save those moments for the biggest occasions.

European nights, cup finals, title races - when Liverpool needed someone to step up, Gerrard was so often the man they turned to.

That is what made him such an iconic captain.

If you’re a young midfielder coming through Liverpool’s academy, comparisons to Steven Gerrard are probably inevitable.

Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of talented youngsters labelled the “next Gerrard”. Jay Spearing, Jordan Rossiter and a number of others have had that tag at different stages of their development.

But the reality is that nobody is ever going to truly recreate what Gerrard did at Liverpool. His impact was unique. For many supporters, he remains the greatest player to ever wear the shirt, so the bar is ridiculously high.

That doesn’t mean young players can’t show some of the qualities that made Gerrard so special, though.

It’s not necessarily about playing exactly like him. It’s more about having that personality on the pitch - the confidence to demand the ball, the intensity to drive the team forward and the ability to take responsibility when things aren’t going well.

Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold both gave supporters that feeling when they first broke into the first team. They were local lads, incredibly talented and clearly comfortable playing on the biggest stage. Naturally, that made the connection with supporters even stronger.

There were moments when both looked like they could become something really special.

Now, another young academy talent is starting to create that same sense of excitement around the club.

It’s still very early, but there’s already a feeling that Liverpool might have another special player coming through.

Let's introduce you to Luca Eden.

It isn't often that a 14-year-old breaks records at a club like Liverpool, but Eden has already managed to do exactly that.

Last year, at just 14 years and 263 days old, he became the youngest player ever to make an appearance for Liverpool at U18 level. Then, in January, he went one step further by becoming the youngest player to score for the Reds at that level, finding the net against Burnley.

Despite his age, Eden made 10 appearances in total and quickly became a regular in Liverpool's U18 Premier League side. He's still only 15, which tells you plenty about how highly he is regarded.

Eden also captains England at U15 level and recently picked up an assist against Brazil.

And if you watch him play, there are already some obvious Steven Gerrard comparisons.

Eden is a technically gifted midfielder, but he's also aggressive, tenacious and not afraid of a physical battle. He uses his body well, competes for every ball and, perhaps most importantly, has a seriously impressive shot from distance.

He's already scored some spectacular goals from outside the box.

Obviously, there's a long way to go, but Eden is certainly a name Liverpool supporters should keep an eye on. He has even trained alongside senior and U21 players in front of Andoni Iraola and Richard Hughes. He spent the summer with the U21s and now in the first game for the U18s, Eden won a penalty against Man City and once again stood out for his quality.

Soon, he will be joining the first-team. It's a matter of time, the way he keeps going, and in the process Liverpool might just have their next Gerrard.