Steve McManaman picks Liverpool star ahead of Cole Palmer as the young player to watch this season
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
The investment in youth players by Liverpool this summer has been a key reason for their predicted success this season.
After becoming Premier League champions in April, the side went straight to work bringing in the best available young players on the transfer market to strengthen their title-winning side.
Their business was finished in the last few hours of deadline day, securing the 25-year-old Swedish sensation Alexander Isak for £125 million, who was just one of their best signings this window.
Of their most high-profile signings, seven, including Isak, were under the age of 25 — a rarity given that most teams have guarded their young talent.
However, the Reds were able to win their signatures.
Photo by Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
It is these supplements to the squad that are bringing the weight of expectation for back-to-back titles to Merseyside, given last season’s performances in the top-flight.
With a strong, youthful lineup like this one, it will be hard for other teams to compete, but there are still some talents in other squads that rivals would suggest are better.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer had his breakout season last year for the club, but has struggled with injury and has yet to make an impact this season.
He would have been touted by pundits to be the one to watch for the upcoming season, but in the eyes of former Liverpool star Steve McManaman, there is one player who beats him to that title.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
In a ranking video for the Emirates FA Cup TikTok, the ex-midfielder was asked to choose his young player to watch, with one name from his old side coming to mind.
McManaman said: “If Florian Wirtz counts as a young player.
Florian Wirtz.
@emiratesfacup
Steve McManaman‘s hot takes for the 2025-26 EmiratesFACup ? #FACup
? original sound – Emirates FA Cup – Emirates FA Cup
View TikTok
“Florian Wirtz or Cole Palmer, they seem to be around about the same age, and they’re superb players and players that I would really like to see.”
The 22-year-old German signing Florian Wirtz was the second most expensive of the window to arrive at Anfield with a price tag of just over £100 million.
Whilst he has struggled in his first few games to make the impact many expected, Wirtz looks set to hit form after his free-kick goal and overall performance for Germany in a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland, a positive for Arne Slot.
This means Sunday’s game against Burnley is the perfect opportunity to kick-start his career at the club.
Turf Moor is a tough fixture at times, but the defensive fragilities that have been displayed by Burnley so far may be what he needs to show his quality.
If he can get in between the lines, link up with Hugo Ekitike and potentially provide some service to the new Liverpool No.