After a ridiculously impressive second season at the club Andy Robertson has cemented the left-back position for years to come; but, with Alberto Moreno likely to leave this summer, the Reds need cover.
One possible option we could explore is to take inspiration from Trent Alexander-Arnold and promote Liverpool-born left-back Adam Lewis from the youth set-up and see how he does in pre-season.
After joining the academy at U6 level and rising up through the ranks, 19-year-old Lewis has become a stalwart in Neil Critchley’s U23 side, clocking up 21 appearances and 4 assists as the young Reds achieved a fourth-place finish in a tight Premier League 2 season.
Adam Lewis will replace Moreno next season for sure. What a baller.
— Samuel 🇪🇸 (@SamueILFC) March 8, 2019
Adam Lewis replaced by Conor Masterson. He’s been superb today, tenacious, classy and sharp on and off the ball. Real good performance from the young Scouser. #LFC
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) March 8, 2019
When Steven Gerrard was at the helm, the 2017/18 campaign saw the young Scouser make a name for himself as he was made captain of the U18s and was England’s left-back for the U19 European Championships last summer.
Since then, Lewis has trained with the senior side at Melwood and even travelled to Marbella to train with the Reds back in February. In the same month, he signed a new long-term deal with the club as a reward for his impressive progress.
This is of course conjecture, but having witnessed Trent’s meteoric rise in the first-team Lewis could be hopeful of emulating it. Robbo came from unglamorous Hull City for £8 million and look at him now!
With alarming similarity, both Lewis and Trent played in the same junior team at County Park FC before entering the Reds’ academy at a young age, both eventually became captains of the U18s, and the two Scousers share the ability to play in central midfield.
Lewis defo. Hes good enough imo watching him. Can fill in at CM as well
— Andrew Phennah (@BusKlopp) March 21, 2019
After making his debut back in October 2016 in a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup, Trent has gone on to play in a Champions League final, the World Cup and broken the Premier League record for assists for a defender this season.
Trent has been an absolute revelation for us – making the position his own – and now looks set to play yet another European final in Madrid. Admittedly, the pathway of the No. 66 is by no means commonplace and Lewis will be aware that if he does make it it will take plenty of hard graft and luck.
Let’s not beat around the bush: the left-back role is Robertson’s. Instead of dipping into the transfer market again, why not promote another highly thought of Scouse graduate and see what he can do? If Trent’s rise has taught us anything it’s that anything can happen.
Read more:
Reds remain linked with summer move for promising Championship defender
The Reds have been linked with a move for Bristol City defender Lloyd Kelly to replace the outgoing Moreno. Kelly can fill in at both left-back and centre-back, but with the young Lewis already at the club and a die-hard Red, why not just elevate him and use the money for attacking reinforcements?
I genuinely don’t see the point in a move for Lloyd Kelly when LFC already have Adam Lewis as a young left back with potential. Don’t see it happening personally, but if it does then fair enough
— Daniel Moxon (@dmoxon_) May 17, 2019
The fact the club are looking at Lloyd and potentially other left-backs could indicate they don’t see Lewis as a viable option, but why pay for potential in Lloyd when we already have it in Scouse form?
Capable of excelling at left-back, as well as plying his trade at centre-mid, the versatile, local lad could potentially be a cost-effective option for Jürgen Klopp.