Leighton Clarkson earns praise from Liverpool fans after his UCL Debut
Liverpool youngster Leighton Clarkson has been praised.
The 19-year-old played all 90 minutes of the game against Midtjylland, which ended 1-1. It was his first appearance for the Liverpool senior side since the FA Cup 4th round replay against Shrewsbury Town in February 2020 and his Champions League debut.
Leighton Clarkson ordinarily occupies the role of a number 6 in midfield and is known for his exquisite passing range. Glimpses of this were shown in tonight’s game, as noted by numerous Liverpool fans.
Really impressed with Clarkson's passing so far!
— Scott (@RedsOrDead) December 9, 2020
Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino played either side of him, both experienced campaigners. However, it was Clarkson that looked the most comfortable on the pitch, especially in the first half.
In the first half, the youngster tried his best to send Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah through on goal a couple of times. Although the attempts were unsuccessful more often than not, it was his vision that impressed us all.
Some Liverpool fans even compared Leighton Clarkson to Thiago Alcantara. Even if it is far too early to make any sort of comparison yet, you can see that their similarity in styles of play is what caught the fan’s eyes.
Apart from his passing range, Clarkson’s ability to recover the ball as the holding midfielder was impressive too. One fan put forth an incredible stat on how Clarkson made the most ball recoveries on the pitch.
19-year old Liverpool midfielder Leighton Clarkson with 10 ball recoveries in his Champions League debut against Midtjylland - more than any other player on the pitch.
— Maxi (@MaaxiAngelo) December 9, 2020
Despite all the positives, Clarkson started to tire out towards the end of the game. For someone who hasn’t got a taste of Champions League football, this is completely understandable.
The fitness levels required to sustain yourselves for 90 minutes in a European game for the Liverpool senior side is miles apart from what you need for an Academy game for the U23s. This is something Leighton Clarkson will get better at with time.
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Clarkson can expect his next start to be against Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup, which is set to be held on January 8, 2021.