Liverpool have a truly ‘brilliant’ talent in their ranks who’s like Fernando Torres, 6 goals from 9 now

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Liverpool have a number of superb attacking talents coming through the ranks.

One such player has been likened to Anfield attacking greats Fernando Torres, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen.

The player in question is Layton Stewart, whose last outing for Liverpool’s Under-21s saw him score a hat-trick.

The 20-year-old is Liverpool born-and-bred, and joined the Anfield academy aged seven.

Stewart has risen through the ranks at Liverpool and graduated to the U21s (previously U23s) in 2021.

Just a few months prior, the young forward had signed his first professional contract with the Reds.

Stewart sadly saw progress halted by a serious knee injury that saw him spent 13 months on the sidelines.

However, he returned to action in April this year and is now back on track and banging in the goals.

And on Saturday, Stewart helped Liverpool’s U21s to a 5-0 win over Wolves U21s in the Premier League 2.

He bagged a hat-trick, while fellow attacking starlet Oakley Cannonier came off the bench to score a brace.

Stewart now has six goals from nine outings for Liverpool’s youngsters this season.

‘We’ve seen him do that before’

Liverpool U21s boss Barry Lewtas lauded Stewart’s finishing abilities after the match.

“They were three brilliant goals,” he told the Reds media team.

“The first goal was the first chance he had and he stuck it away ever so well.

“The second goal was a brilliant ball in from Dominic Corness and Layton has chested it down and finished.

“His third goal was fantastic and we’ve seen him do that before. He spotted the ‘keeper off his line and finished.

“It was a nice hat-trick, certainly.”

‘Throwback tones of those former Liverpool strikers’

‘Fernando Torres. That’s the name which keeps popping up when you ask people about Liverpool’s academy starlet Layton Stewart,’ The Athletic wrote in October 2020.

‘It’s not just Torres, either. The Huyton-born teenager’s style of play has also been likened to that of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen.

‘I guess you could say we have been here before, and the last thing anyone wants to do is put unnecessary pressure on an 18-year-old still honing his craft by tagging him as “the next” somebody or other.

‘In light of these comparisons and growing excitement within the club about Stewart, those closest to the No 9 are keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

‘Yes, Stewart’s style of play does give off throwback tones of those former Liverpool strikers. There is no getting away from that.

‘He has that same ability to float on the shoulders of defenders before a burst of pace and calculated finish.’