We all know Liverpool have a very young squad this season. It's something that's been occurring year upon year since FSG bought the club in 2010. Young players with a strong resale value has been the go-to business model of John Henry and co. and there have been intermittent signs that it may be working.
Philippe Coutinho, for example, was signed for a relatively small outlay and is now worth an awful lot more. On the other hand, Lazar Markovic was signed for a relatively large amount and is now worth considerably less. However, as Liverpool proved last night, it's not all about identifying young players on the continent.
Liverpool finished an away game with Arsenal with Joe Gomez, Jordan Ibe and Jordan Rossiter all on the pitch. Gomez in particular impressed last night but it would be fair to say that all three have a bit of room for development. Gomez and Rossiter are both 18, while Ibe is 19.
We all know that's quite young to be playing against Arsenal in the Premier League but just look how young it is in the go-to metric for footballer age. What tournament were they born after?
Says in this Jordon Ibe, Joe Gomez & Jordan Rossiter were all born after Euro 96. How old does that make you feel?! https://t.co/Gy5qSzu8Vn
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarrett) August 25, 2015
Euro 96. That is sickening, truly sickening. If we're being entirely truthful, that stat doesn't actually apply to Ibe. He was all of six months old when Euro 96 kicked off but we're still resentful of him so we're keeping him in there.
We all have that one player who breaks into the Premier League at a disgustingly young age and confirms in our young hopeful minds that there is absolutely no chance that we'll make it as a professional footballer. If you're in your late twenties that player is probably Cesc Fabregas. If you're a bit younger it's probably Jack Wilshere.
If you were born after Euro 96, then sorry to tell you, you probably won't make it. Don't blame us, blame those damn Liverpool players.
