Peter Crouch has predicted that Liverpool’s rising star Neco Williams could end up breaking into the first-team squad at Anfield and views him as an ideal understudy to Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.
The Reds have a number of quality players in their academy ranks and many have had their opportunities to impress in the first-team squad this season.
Williams has made his first four senior appearances this campaign and he’s someone that has come through the youth ranks as a kid.
The attack-minded right-back has played in cup competitions so far and he featured in an extremely young group that beat Shrewsbury Town midweek win an FA Cup fourth round replay at Anfield.
He’s been named on the bench in six Premier League games so far this season, but is still waiting for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp to give him his top-flight debut.
The 18-year-old has played for Wales on the international stage at Under-19 level and is viewed as a star in the making.
Ex-Reds striker Crouch is excited about the prospect of teenager Williams and has made his prediction about him.
“Williams was terrific once again [against Shrewsbury] and could end up being Trent Alexander-Arnold’s understudy,” Crouch wrote in the Daily Mail.
TBR’s VIew:
Williams already looks an exciting player that is mature beyond his years and doesn’t look overawed by the step up to senior action.
He’s got the perfect traits of the type of full-back Liverpool use, as he loves to get forward with his pace and athleticism, plus he’s got a great final ball too.
Alexander-Arnold, 21, has the right-back position locked down for the long-term due to his incredible form in recent year and many consider him the best in the world now in that area.
But understudy Nathaniel Clyne hasn’t kicked a ball this season due to injuries and was loaned out to Bournemouth last year too, with his days on Merseyside surely numbered.
Williams appears to be slowly becoming the second-choice option at right-back and he couldn’t ask for a better mentor than Alexander-Arnold, who made the exact same path from the academy to the main group only a few years ago.