Technically 4 if you include interim.
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Hoping the following guys get out probably for loan spells this late in the window…
James Balagizi, 21, CM: Had a good first half of the season with Crawley in 22/23 before suffering season ending injury. Two poor spells in 23/24 with Wigan then Kilmarnock. Scored on assisted in first U21 start this season before suffering another injury. Returned to U21s in December but has not featured since.
Dominic Corness, 21, CM: Has played well for the U21s after returning from a loan at Yverdon Sport in 2024. Had an injury in November that ruled him out until last week but he was fit enough to play 27 minutes of the 2:0 loss to Spurs U21s.
Harvey Davies, 21, GK: Had a tough first loan spell with Crewe last season where he made a number of errors and lost his place. Has settled again at U21 level for Liverpool and regularly is a part of first team training. Has started the last three U21 games seemingly beating out Kornel Misciur at the moment.
James Norris, 21, LB: Was taken on the Champions League trip to PSV and Girona which will have been a boost after being another one to have a tough loan spell in 23/24 where he failed to establish himself at Tranmere. Got a goal and assist on opening day vs Man City but has since looked a little stale at this level and could do with playing regular senior football. Has not played for U21s since November.
Oakley Cannonier, 20, CF: Has barely played at all for Liverpool since moving to U21 football. Generated a lot of excitement with 28 goals in 26 games for the U18s but hasn’t been able to transition this to the older age group. Was on trial with Leeds United last week and, if he doesn’t leave on loan, I think much of his next 5 months will be spent trialing at various clubs trying to find a professional contract somewhere.
Jayden Danns, 19, CF: Still a very raw talent having shot through the system from U18s winger to first team CF in a few months during Klopp’s last season. Three goals in nine first team games for Liverpool shows his potential but gametime looks hard to come by in the next few months. Sunderland are said to be very close to securing him for the second half of the season.
Lee Jonas, 20, CB: Probably pretty unlikely to get a loan but Jonas has 18 months left of U21 eligibility and it would be good to get some senior experience into him before his final season. He’s started the majority of U21 games this season as he rehabs from his second major injury in three years, which wiped out his 23/24 campaign.
Isaac Mabaya, 20, RB: Seems a long time now since a teenaged Mabaya was repeatedly destroying Manchester United players in US pre-season tours. At one point Mabaya had the inside line on becoming the club’s primary Trent Alexander-Arnold backup but he has lost that role to Conor Bradley after injury has limited him to just six starts at U21 level in the last two years. Has managed to start the last three U21 games in a row however and his pace and power would be a big asset for may Football League clubs.
James McConnell, 20, CM: This one really depends what happens with Morton. If Morton leaves then McConnell can stay as the depth option in midfield but if Morton stays then getting McConnell out could be really beneficial. Plenty of Championship clubs would take him in a heartbeat.
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Seems Jayden Danns is off to Sunderland on loan anyhow here is a classic in clickbait.
Hasn’t Slot closed to door on McConnell leaving, sure he mentioned it in one of his press conferences.
I saw the quote from Slot but I was unclear exactly what he was saying.
“There is definitely one of them that will not go on loan – and I think you know which one I mean. James McConnell. I wouldn’t say definitely, but I liked him a lot today, so maybe now the end result today would be it’d be good for him to go somewhere and play.”
Maybe it’s clearer if I go back and watch the video but the wording throws me off a little and I wonder if he’s actually talking about two different players like There is one player who won’t be going on loan and the journalist knows who that is. End statement. James McConnell not definitely going on loan but I liked him today and maybe it would be good to go somewhere and play.
I know the reporting has been very firm that this means Slot was saying McConnell can’t leave but it seems, on paper at least, like he was saying they’re thinking about trying to get him a loan.
But all of that is irrelevant anyway I guess as James Pearce has said today that he is staying.
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Yeah I felt it meant he was staying he seems ahead of Morton anyhow.
It seems on a couple of occassions McConnel has been preferred over Morton when there was an opportunity for a youth player. I get in the long term focusing on what McConnell needs for his development may be best, but if there are even a couple of games over the rest of the season where we might need one of them Im inclined to think we’re better off keeping the one Slot has more current interest in using.
Thoughts?
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Do they even play the same roles?
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Close enough. Neither of them are close enough to being developed enough to pigeon hole them as a specific type of midfielder. I think at least for Liverpool Morton has maybe been more consistently deeper than McConnell has been, but few kids this age are going to be getting opportunities in the first team in a role they are already exactly the right player for
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Yeah McConnell has I think started to look like the preferred option and I think we’re probably looking to try and get Morton out on a permanent deal. I don’t really see Morton or McConnell being needed this season except for Plymouth and possibly another FA Cup game if we get a favourable draw.
You gain a lot through training with good players so McConnell doesn’t need to go on loan to develop but I’d just like to see it personally.
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How would you compare the two in your opinion? In terms of current ability and future potential?
I don’t think either of them are perfect prospects but McConnell is more comfortable on the ball and the better long term prospect. To me McConnell has a better eye for a pass, is a bit more mobile and quick around the field. Although as things are right now I don’t think they are massively different players.
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2 years at that age is also pretty big.
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On eye test alone (with much fewer games than Sweeting), McConnell is well ahead. Seems that Slot agrees also
I didn’t rate McConnell, but at least he surprised us in the last game. I don’t remember anything impressive from Morton, he’s always invisible to me.
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Kaide Gordon to Portsmouth. Hopefully gets some game time.
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Corness has gone Gillingham.
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Is that like going postal, but with added Brexit? 
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Knee injury, expected to be out for weeks.
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