Premier League's youngest XI of the 2021/22 season featuring Alejandro Garnacho

By Tom Avery

While Thiago Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to defy father time at the age of 37, The Boot Room takes a look at the youngest Premier League XI of the 2021/22 season.

Silva and Ronaldo’s longevity is to be admired and with several young players emerging from Premier League clubs, the world-class duo’s dedication to keeping themselves at the top of the game makes them the perfect role models.

But with Silva and Ronaldo grabbing the headlines throughout their trophy-filled careers, we take a look at the youngsters who have emerged this season…

Youngest Premier League XI of the 2021/22 season

Kristoffer Klaesson

After Illan Meslier had been clattered by Raul Jimenez, who was given a second yellow card for his challenge on the Frenchman, Leeds United’s number one couldn’t continue at Molineux.

That resulted in the 21-year-old Klaesson coming off the bench to make his first-team debut for the Whites.

The former Norway Under-21 international came on when Jesse Marsch’s side were 2-0 down in the Black Country, but the American’s Elland Road side turned the game on its head and won 3-2.

Tino Livramento

Southampton paid Chelsea £5m to sign the attack-minded full-back and Livramento made his Premier League debut at the age of 18 in a 3-1 defeat against Everton.

The three-time England Under-21 international has made 28 appearances in the top-flight his campaign, but his season was brought to an end last month.

Livramento is expected to be out for the rest of 2022 with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury which he suffered in a 2-2 draw against Brighton.

Charlie Cresswell

Marcelo Bielsa gave the one-time England Under-21 international his Premier League debut in the 2-1 loss against West Ham at Elland Road in September.

The centre-back played the full match against David Moyes’ side and has gone to make four further league appearances this season.

Andrew Omobamidele

The four-time Republic of Ireland international had made nine appearances for Norwich City in the Championship last season.

But former Canaries boss Daniel Farke handed the 19-year-old his Premier League debut at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal in September.

Norwich lost 1-0 against Mikel Arteta’s side, but the promising defender has made five Premier League starts this season and has a goal against Leeds to his name as well.

With the Canaries dropping down to the Championship once again, Omobamidele will be looking to establish himself as a regular at Carrow Road.

Leo Fuhr Hjelde

Bielsa started the left-back, who was signed from Celtic last August, in the 3-2 against West Ham at the London Stadium in January.

The 18-year-old also started the 3-0 loss at Everton the following month, but he is yet to feature under Marsch.

Tim Iroegbunam

The former West Brom youngster has made three first team appearances for Aston Villa since Steven Gerrard took the Villa Park reigns following the sacking of Dean Smith.

The England Under-19 international came off the bench to make his Premier League debut in the Villains’ 2-0 win at Brighton in February.

The 18-year-old was handed his first Premier League start in last month’s 2-0 win against Norwich City.

Carney Chukwuemeka

The talented Aston Villa Academy prospect was given his first Premier League start at the age of 17 in this season’s third matchweek which saw Smith take on his former side Brentford.

Chukwuemeka has made a further ten substitute appearances in the top-flight this campaign, but with Arsenal monitoring the starlet, the Villa Park side may struggle to keep hold of the whizkid whose contract expires next summer.

Kaide Gordon

The former Derby County wonderkid scored on his first appearance at Anfield for the Liverpool first team in the FA Cup third-round clash against Shrewsbury Town in January.

A week after his FA Cup strike, the 17-year-old was given his Premier League debut as a substitute against Brentford on Merseyside.

Gordon has made four appearances for Liverpool this season and his involvement under Klopp will likely increase with every passing year.

He is the youngest Premier League player to feature in our XI of the season.

Harvey Elliott

Elliott, who spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, had already made two Premier League appearances for Liverpool prior to the current campaign kicking off.

But after coming on as a substitute in the opening weekend 3-0 win against Norwich, at the age of 18, Elliott is one of the youngest used players in the top-flight this campaign.

The former Fulham ace was making his third consecutive Premier League start before suffering a horror injury at Leeds.

Alejandro Garnacho

The Argentinian Under-20 international, who has trained alongside Lionel Messi for the senior national team and played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United, looks to be the latest star to come through the United academy.

The former Atletico Madrid youngster will be a key man in tonight’s FA Youth Cup Final and he’ll be hoping to impress Erik ten Hag in pre-season.

The left-winger was handed his Premier League debut by Ralf Rangnick in the dying stages of the 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford last month.

Evan Ferguson

The Republic of Ireland international had already made three first-team appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion this season before making his Premier League debut at the age of 17 as a substitute against Burnley in February.

The striker, who has eight Premier League 2 goals to his name this season, hasn’t featured in the top-flight since his cameo against the Clarets but with Graham Potter’s record of trusting youngsters at the Amex, Ferguson will likely get more chances to impress.