It’s not at all times straightforward to note the passage of time, however these photographs of Liverpool gamers after they had been younger are good for that cause – there are a variety of child faces!
There’s something satisfying about trying again in time and reflecting on photographs or clips that you simply keep in mind first-hand or have by no means even seen earlier than.
With regards to Liverpool’s gamers and coaches, you could have charted their careers or don’t have any conception of what they regarded like earlier than they ever arrived at Anfield.
To that finish, let’s check out some cracking photographs of gamers after they had been younger and beginning out of their careers.
Virgil van Dijk – Groningen
That is Van Dijk as a 21-year-old at Groningen in 2012, the membership he joined on the age of 19 from Willem II.
It’s right here he made his skilled debut, however he actually doesn’t appear like he has aged a day, does he?
Mo Salah – Chelsea
It doesn’t really feel nor look proper to see Salah in Chelsea colors, it’s as if it belongs to a parallel universe – or it ought to anyway!
This picture is of a 22-year-old Salah in 2014, he would later be despatched on mortgage to Fiorentina and Roma as Chelsea fumbled one of many best skills the Premier League has ever seen.
Their loss was Liverpool’s eventual achieve.
Harvey Elliott – Fulham
Extremely, this picture is from the day Harvey Elliott made his first-team debut for Fulham as a 15-year-old in September 2018. He was nonetheless learning for his GCSEs!
A face with lots much less facial hair than we have now grown accustomed to, however he actually does appear older than he’s having been round a senior surroundings for thus lengthy already.
He’s nonetheless simply 21!
Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool
There’s solely been one membership for Trent (let’s hope it stays that approach!), he joined on the age of six and rose by way of the ranks to make himself an indispensable a part of the workforce.
On this picture, he’s 16 and arriving at Swindon City for a pleasant match in the summertime of 2015 – he began alongside the likes of Roberto Firmino, Lucas Leiva and Kolo Toure.
How the time flies.
Joe Gomez – Charlton
A lot has modified with Gomez and but a lot stays the identical, particularly his mannerisms and facial expressions.
Gomez was at Charlton from the age of 10 (2007) till he joined the Reds in 2015, he’s gone on to have a rollercoaster of a profession with unimaginable highs and lowly lows.
Caoimhin Kelleher – Liverpool
Take a look at this lanky model of Kelleher!
The Irishman switched to the Reds from Ringmahon Rangers in 2015 on the age of 17 and this is likely one of the earliest photos of him that includes for the U18s not lengthy after his arrival.
Cody Gakpo – PSV
Gakpo was a product of PSV’s academy, progressing by way of the youth groups earlier than making his skilled bow in 2016 – and solely a 12 months later he would face his future membership.
The picture above is from an under-23s pre-season pleasant between Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven in 2017 – he’s immediately recognisable.
Ryan Gravenberch – Ajax
Gravenberch joined Ajax’s academy as an eight-year-old, however this image is from his assembly in opposition to Liverpool in 2020 – when he was 18, nonetheless solely very younger – and he seems it.
Think about telling this Gravenberch that he would later turn out to be one of many first names on the teamsheet at Liverpool and be key to their hopes of silverware in 2024/25.
Curtis Jones – Liverpool
Lots will keep in mind this model of Jones, a standout on the membership’s academy for fairly a couple of years.
He simply hasn’t grown into his face fluff right here, which is comprehensible as this picture was taken in 2016 when he was solely 15.
Andy Robertson – Hull
Hull was Robertson’s third membership in his profession, and this specific picture was taken in 2015 when he was solely 21 – the age Elliott is!
Has he modified all that a lot?
Alexis Mac Allister – Brighton
That’s fairly the scruffy beard, Macca!
It’s nearly arduous to recollect a time Mac Allister was not a Crimson contemplating how seamless his transition was, however right here is taking part in in opposition to Liverpool in 2020.
Ibrahima Konate – Leipzig
Child Ibou!
Konate moved from France to Germany in 2017, with the then-18-year-old touchdown at Leipzig – let’s hope he by no means loses his child-like spirit.
Dominik Szoboszlai – Salzburg
Fairly the totally different barnet from Szoboszlai right here!
That is one more occasion of a present participant having beforehand met Liverpool in European competitors, with Szoboszlai that includes in opposition to the Reds in 2019.
Alisson – Roma
The 2016 model of Alisson Becker, not which you could inform there was any passage of time!
He’s simply a kind of gamers who has at all times had an aura to them.
Diogo Jota – Portugal U21s
We’re rolling the time again to 2018 for Jota when he was 21 and recent off signing a everlasting deal to affix Wolves as they earned promotion to the Premier League.
You possibly can persuade us this image was taken lately!
John Heitinga – Everton
Time for a take a look at the Liverpool coaches, beginning with assistant coach Heitinga.
Right here he’s in 2009 taking part in for Everton as a 25-year-old, he signed for the Toffees that 12 months from Atletico Madrid and went on to play 140 video games.
Anfield beckoned in 2024, although, and we have now to say he seems lots higher in crimson!
Arne Slot – Sparta Rotterdam
We’ve gone a little bit additional again in time for this one, sorry Arne!
Slot was taking part in for Sparta Rotterdam, with this picture taken in February 2009. If you would like some context, Rio Ngumoha – who made his senior debut underneath Slot – was 5 months previous.
Once more, sorry Arne!
