The best Liverpool Academy players you haven’t heard of yet
By Roy Skillen
Glen McAuley
Liverpool developed a habit of producing quality strikers during the 90s . Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler went on to become two of the clubs all time greats while the likes of Neil Mellor and Ian Armstrong would have promising careers cut short through injury. Unfortunately the Kirkby striker conveyor belt had gone a little quite over the last decade, but maybe it is just heating up again with Glen McAuley ready to press his case for first team football.
The 17-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international joined Liverpool in the summer of 2016 after impressing scouts while playing for local Dublin side St Joesephs. Known for getting goals, goals and more goals in his homeland it’s a trend that has continued during his first year at the Kirkby Academy, 15 in 21 to be exact.
Last season’s U18 coach, Neil Critchley, labelled him an, “old fashioned striker that always get’s himself in to goal scoring positions,” and watching his Youtube montage it’s not hard to see where the analogy came from. McAuley holds the ball up amazingly well, is calm and composed on the ball making him an amazing outlet but it’s finishing that really sets him apart.
He loves to play on the shoulder of defenders, constantly looking to sneak in on the blindside ready for the one perfect delivery. When he gets it, he rarely misses, often finishing first time leaving the opposition keeper flat-footed as the ball is stroked past him in to the net.
“I just like to score goals! I wouldn’t say I’m ‘old-fashioned’…,” he laughs, when reminded of his manager’s words by Liverpoolfc.com.
“But yeah, that’s the way I like to play – to get in behind and get goals.”