James Milner became the latest name to be added to Liverpool’s extensive injury list after picking up a hamstring problem in the Reds’ 1-1 draw against Brighton on Saturday and Jurgen Klopp must now to consider promoting some academy talents to the first-team.

The Anfield outfit look extremely short of midfield options, with Milner, Thiago, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all currently sidelined, whilst Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have only recently returned from injuries.

Fortunately for Klopp, the Liverpool academy boasts some excellent talents who would be capable of stepping up to help out over a busy Christmas period.

One such player is 19-year-old midfielder, Leighton Clarkson.

The academy graduate has already made two senior appearances for Liverpool in his career and has been a regular for the U’23s recently, having made 14 appearances for the second team, despite only turning 19 in October, per Transfermarkt.

The Blackburn-born midfielder has enjoyed an excellent start to the current season, having scored twice and assisted three times in eight games for the U’23s, also per Transfermarkt.

He has also been on the bench for Klopp’s side in recent games against Atalanta and Leicester City, so Klopp will surely be aware of his talent and should perhaps consider giving him an opportunity.

The likes of Curtis Jones, Nat Phillips and Neco Williams have established themselves as first-team players at the Merseyside club recently, having come through the academy, so perhaps Clarkson can be the next name added to that list.

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Ljinders was full of praise for the youngster when he was training with the first-team as a 17-year-old back in 2019, saying:

“Leighton Clarkson, who sees with his own eyes the constant runs of Sadio and Mo in behind. He has the capacity to play the passes these type of forwards like to receive, he is the type of No6 we really like, the one who can dictate play, but dictate with direction, who can speed up the tempo of the positional play, the one who has always time on the ball.”

Therefore, there seems no reason why the young midfielder shouldn’t be given an opportunity to impress in Klopp’s side whilst they deal with their current injury crisis.

And, in other news… LFC ‘machine’ badly let Klopp down with a horrific performance against Brighton