Liverpool Football Club’s academy has long been a source of genuine excitement for supporters, and on numerous occasions, young talents have emerged who captured the hopes of fans everywhere. Some of these players have stunned fans from the youth setup, expected to make a huge impact with the first team and stepping out at Anfield; however, it might be more challenging than expected. Others may have arrived with massive expectations, and despite some glimmers of brilliance, maybe they were not a good fit for the Liverpool shirt. So with that being said, today we will be looking at 7 Liverpool players who were adored by fans but had high hopes for the future, but never managed to shine on Merseyside. Their popularity also feeds into the wider football economy, with Liverpool consistently among the most backed teams on betting platforms that often combine sports wagering with online casino games.
Ben Woodburn
Ben Woodburn’s rise was meteoric in his teenage years, with him becoming Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer in a League Cup match in 2016 and earning international recognition soon after. Despite these early signs of promise, he left Liverpool in 2022, joining Preston North End and subsequently moving to Salford City, continuing his professional career outside the Premier League. Now at the age of 26, unfortunately, it doesn’t look as though we will ever see Ben Woodburn back towards the top leagues of English football.
Rhian Brewster
Rhian Brewster arrived at Liverpool with a goalscoring reputation that installed excitement in fans when talking about the young Englishman. To prepare him for Premier League life after picking up a Champions League medal with the Reds, he was sent out on loan to Swansea City, but he never impressed the coaches back at Anfield. He never got an opportunity as a result of a prolific Roberto Firmino being ahead of him, forcing a move to Sheffield United in 2020. After over 100 appearances for the Blades, he left for Derby County in 2025, where he is beginning to reshape his career.
Jordan Ibe
Jordan Ibe carried a significant reputation as a pacy and exciting winger and debuted for Liverpool’s senior side as a teenager. While he did show some potential to become one of Liverpool’s big names, Ibe never became a frequent figure in Jurgen Klopp’s squad selections and was subsequently sold to Bournemouth in 2016. His career was one scattered with issues off the pitch, affecting his performance on it, seeing him venture to many clubs in England and not being able to establish a place in a squad at a high level. Ibe is an example of how difficult football can be for players, once being an incredibly highly praised player at Anfield, to a squad member in the Bulgarian first division.
Sheyi Ojo
Sheyi Ojo was by far one of Liverpool’s standout youth projects that caught global attention for his skilful nature and rapid pace, becoming the first teenager that legendary manager Jurgen Klopp had given a Premier League debut. However, despite the early signs of promise, he was only offered a handful of appearances as well as several loan spells across both English football and further abroad. In 2022, he moved permanently to Cardiff City and later transferred to Maribor, carving out a career well away from Liverpool’s first-team picture.
Neco Williams
Neco Williams progressed through Liverpool’s youth system to make over thirty senior appearances and was part of squads during a successful period for the club. Despite this, he struggled to secure a regular starting position and joined Nottingham Forest in 2022 after a loan at Fulham, where he scored his first senior club goals. At Forest, he has become a consistent presence and extended his contract into 2029, also establishing himself as a regular Wales international.
Darwin Nunez
Though he wasn’t brought up in Liverpool’s youth development, Darwin Núñez was a big-money acquisition who arrived with significant fan excitement and delivered moments of quality, including impactful spells in the EFL Cup and impressive goal and assist numbers. Despite moments of excellence, Nunez’s inconsistency when it came to finishing was a big issue for Klopp and Arne Slot, meaning he was slowly being replaced by more efficient strikers that could advance Liverpool’s attacking threat. The Uruguayan departed for Al Hilal in 2025 after winning the Premier League, but will forever be in Liverpool fans’ memory, whether it was for his hilarious personality, passion on the pitch, or that incredible double at St James’ Park.
Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson was a Liverpool youth product known for his excellent left foot and goal threat in academy competition. He made just one competitive appearance for the senior side before a series of loans to Hull, Derby, Bournemouth, Cardiff and Wolves, finally joining Wolves on a permanent transfer in 2022. Wilson has since been a regular contributor in the Premier League, though never in a Liverpool shirt, showcasing the trajectory of a talented player flourishing elsewhere. However, in the 2025/26 season, Wilson has begun to show the class that Liverpool fans were expecting, becoming a pivotal player in the Fulham side that is shocking many football fans this season.
