Jürgen Klopp could find next ‘special’ Liverpool debut soon as USMNT star ready for World Cup

Liverpool’s academy is thriving at the moment with plenty of young players catching the eye of Jürgen Klopp’s first-team staff. Just last week, there were two more debutants from the academy against Toulouse with Calum Scanlon and James McConnell making their professional bows in a Liverpool shirt.

During pre-season, Klopp described his current group of young players as ‘special.’ A telling remark about the level of talent at his disposal at the moment. With the likes of Ben Doak, Jarell Quansah and Stefan Bajčetić already breaking through, the trio is only scratching at the surface of the exciting players emerging from the club’s academy.

As Liverpool looks to rebuild the squad for the future, Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0 is going to be built on his current young players and it’s encouraging just how many exciting young stars have shown the potential to be part of that rebuild process. With the club’s U21 and U18 sides both starting the season really well, there have been plenty of players who haven’t even yet arrived on the first team’s periphery making their mark as well.

It speaks volumes that someone as talented as Keyrol Figueroa, for example, has gone under the radar. The U17 USMNT star has had to nurse an injury during the beginning of the season, but he has returned recently and featured in a victory over Sunderland and a defeat against Fulham in the Premier League Cup.

Towards the end of last season, he scored four goals and made three assists in his last eight games in the U18 Premier League, showcasing just why he is highly rated by the club’s academy staff. Strong in possession, and with a great eye for goal, Figueroa has the versatility to play both as a winger and as a forward as well.

He only turned 17 at the end of the summer and he’s still very young, but based on his numbers, both for Liverpool and at international level, he could very well have a bright future ahead. He has the potential to emulate the achievements of his father, Maynor, who was the captain of his country and played Premier League football for several years.

Now he also has the chance to play at a World Cup, once again following in his father’s footsteps after he appeared at two senior World Cup tournaments in his career. Figueroa has been called into the USMNT’s U17 squad for the World Cup taking place in Indonesia next month — a major recognition for the talented teenager.

The world’s best young players will be looking to make their mark at the tournament, and Figueroa will be among them. Earlier this year, he scored seven goals in seven games at the U17 CONCACAF Championship, and if he can replicate that form at the World Cup as well, he will undoubtedly leave his mark again.

And should he once again catch the eye, a call-up to Klopp’s senior squad might not be too far off. Should he achieve that, Figueroa would become just the fourth player from the US to make it into Liverpool’s first team, following Brad Friedel, Zak Whitbread and Hugh Lester.

Considering the club’s ties to the US through its owners, it is odd that there haven’t been more in recent years. Figueroa could be the player to open the floodgates.