Jurgen Klopp's kids! Conor Bradley, Ben Doak and 15 Liverpool academy stars who can keep the Reds on top after manager leaves

Liverpool made the bold call not to sign another centre-back during the summer but the gamble has paid off thanks to Quansah, who has been sensational since being thrown into the fold, particularly after the season-ending injury to Joel Matip. A wonderfully composed and versatile centre-half that can also play right-back, Quansah has gone from strength to strength since making his Reds debut in the most difficult of circumstances, after coming on as a sub in the backs-to-the-wall win at Newcastle in August. Just "a fantastic talent", as Virgil van Dijk put it.

Some people have forgotten about the midfielder as this season has been an absolute nightmare for Bajcetic, who has been restricted to just two appearances because of an adductor problem linked to a growth spurt. "He could train today fully and then maybe tomorrow as well, but then not [for] five weeks," Klopp explained at the turn of the year. "And that makes it so frustrating for the boy."

However, it's clear that as soon as the Spaniard returns to full fitness, he will have a big role to play as one of the few specialist No.6s at Anfield. Bajcetic, remember, was described as "Liverpool's best player" by Mohamed Salah when the teenager broke into the starting line-up during a difficult spell for Klopp's team last season.

Competing with Quansah for the right to be regarded as the revelation of Liverpool's season so far. After a very productive and successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers, the Northern Ireland international is now up to 12 appearances in all competitions, having done an incredible job filling in for the injured Alexander-Arnold.

"A wonderful kid, a really hard worker, and a good footballer," Klopp enthused after the win at Bournemouth. "He is a defender but he can attack as well." No arguments there: Bradley has already racked up five assists - and one goal - in a Red shirt, meaning Alexander-Arnold's move into midfield could happen sooner than we thought!

The teenage winger is presently sidelined with an injury that could well keep him out for the remainder of the season. However, Doak has already done enough since joining from Celtic in 2022 to show why he's considered one of the most exciting players to come out of Scotland in years.

Doak is an incredibly direct dribbler, always willing to take on his man, and was hugely impressive during Liverpool's pre-season programme. He has "obvious quality", as Klopp says, and could become a real crowd favourite at Anfield if he makes a full recovery from knee surgery.

Liverpool desperately needed cover at left-back after losing both Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas to shoulder injuries, so the decision to recall Beck from Dundee at the start of January was utterly unsurprising. However, when the crisis eased, the Wales youth international was promptly sent back to Dens Park, where he continues to excel.

The 21-year-old, who made his Premier League debut at Bournemouth last month and was on the bench in the midweek Carabao Cup clash with Fulham, struggled during previous loan spells at Famalicao and Bolton, but he's excelling in Scotland and there is a growing feeling that Liverpool might have a long-term successor to Robertson on their hands in the shape of Ian Rush's great-nephew.

The midfielder's last appearance for Liverpool may have come during the 2021-22 campaign, but there's a very real chance that Morton will be part of the senior squad next season. His current loan spell at Hull City is going even better than his previous stint in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers, with Morton rewarded with a first appearance for England's Under-21s after establishing himself as a regular in Liam Rosenior's promotion-chasing team.

Morton said recently that he knows that he still has "a long way to go to show the player that I am", suggesting that he not only has sufficient talent to carve out a career for himself at Anfield, but also the right temperament.

As soon as the winger started training with the senior squad again after 18 months out with a persistent pelvic problem, Klopp and his coach staff "realised immediately, 'Ah, that's what we've missed!'"

Having joined from Derby in February 2021, Gordon made his Liverpool debut later that year before becoming the club's youngest FA Cup scorer the following January. Now, finally, he's set to see some more game time after starting against Union SG in the Europa League in December before being brought on in the dying minutes of the win at Bournemouth last month. It's worth remembering, too, that Gordon is still only 19, so the expectation remains that he will eventually force his way into Klopp's starting line-up if he manages to stay fit.

The Irishman has yet to make his professional debut, but it only feels like a matter of time at this stage, with Kone-Doherty having been most recently called-up to train with the senior squad ahead of the recent meeting with Bournemouth.

After shaking off some minor injury issues, the 17-year-old has been in sensational form this season for the Under-18s, most notably scoring twice in the stunning 7-1 rout of Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup, but he's also impressed for the U21s.

The Reds are preaching caution when it comes to Kone-Doherty, who signed his first professional contract with the club in October, but there's no quelling the sense of excitement building around a fast and tricky forward that left Derry City for Liverpool in 2022.

After starring for the Under-21s last season, the 18-year-old midfielder was called up for the senior team's pre-season training camp in Germany and told Liverpool's official website "It's a great time to be a young footballer here. I just want to show the manager what I can do. Hopefully, I will get more chances."

Clark, a £1.5 million ($1.9m) signing from Newcastle in August 2021, has certainly had to bide his time, but the opportunities he wanted are now starting to arrive, with the England Under-19 international having made seven appearances so far this season - with more set to follow.

Clark is fully aware of how difficult it will be to break into the Liverpool midfield on a regular basis but he was excellent after coming on against Chelsea and it's easy to understand why Klopp likes a technically proficient player who is renowned for his intelligent and intense pressing.

Another youngster who featured regularly during Liverpool's pre-season preparations, McConnell was given his professional debut in the Europa League win over Toulouse in October before making his Premier League bow against Brentford the following month.

The key to the 19-year-old's progression has been the seriously impressive way in which he's adapted to playing as a No.6, having previously made his name as an attack-minded midfielder with an eye for goal. The positional switch has seen McConnell - who joined from Sunderland five years ago - become a regular in Klopp's matchday squads and he's just signed another "long-term" contract extension with the club.

A player who has been at the club since the age of six realised a "dream" last September when he made his Liverpool debut in the Carabao Cup win over Leicester. A month later, he was given his first start, in the Europa League rout of Toulouse.

By that stage, it was clear that Chambers deserved more game time at senior level, so even though Klopp refused to sanction a loan move last summer, he gave the green light for Chambers to join Wigan for the remainder of the season in early January.

It's been a case of so far, so good for the 19-year-old left-back, who has started nine consecutive games at the DW Stadium and is showing why Tsimikas believes Chambers has such a "bright future".

A £500,000 ($636,000) signing from Birmingham City in December 2020, the buccaneering left-back was initially hindered by injury, but has been training regularly with Liverpool's first team this season after impressing during pre-season.

The unavailability of Robertson also contributed to Scanlon making his first two appearances at senior level, in the group stage of the Europa League, and more opportunities should follow. With his pace and pin-point crossing, the 18-year-old is renowned for his attacking prowess and has impressed his coaches at under-age level with his work-rate and willingness to learn.

The 16-year-old would have become Liverpool's youngest Premier League debutant had he been brought off the bench in 3-0 win over Brentford in November. Nyoni didn't see any game time, of course, but there was a lovely moment after the game when a smiling Klopp ran over to the prodigiously gifted midfielder to give him a hug and a few words of advice.

It perfectly illustrated just how much affection he has for an incredible talent who has progressed far rapidly through Liverpool's under-age teams than anyone could have hoped for following his arrival from Leicester in August of last year. It won't be long before Nyoni, who scored an injury-time winner in a Merseyside derby with Everton's U18s earlier this season, makes his first appearance under Klopp, especially when one considers that he was an unused sub in the League Cup final.

Tranmere legend and former Wales international Jason Koumas started out at Liverpool, playing alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen at under-age level, but never made a senior appearance for the Reds before moving to Prenton Park as a youngster. However, Koumas' son Lewis has every chance of featuring for the first time, given the versatile 18-year-old attacker, who can play as a No.9 or out wide, is generating a lot of excitement in the youth sector.

The Wales U19 international was called into the matchday squad for the Europa League game against Union Saint-Gilloise in December, and although he didn't get off the bench, Koumas' hat-trick in the FA Youth Cup hammering of Arsenal has only pushed him closer to a senior debut.

Another son of a former professional footballer, Danns' father Neil played for Crystal Palace among several other clubs, as well as the Guyana national team. However, the talented forward, who can play as a No.9 or No.10, represents England at Under-18 level and has just had the best week of his young life, having made his professional debut against Luton before coming off the bench again at Wembley. He impressed on both occasions, too, fully justifying Klopp's faith in Danns.