A year on from his dream involvement with the first team for pre-season, Liverpool right-back Isaac Mabaya made his return from a 10-month injury.
Mabaya, a long-time academy talent, became a favourite among avid watchers last summer with a series of brave displays for the senior side.
But the 18-year-old was unable to build on this as hoped, as he picked up a persistent ankle injury in October.
Spending the remainder of the campaign on the sidelines, Mabaya was joined in his rehabilitation by team-mate James Balagizi.ery ove
The pair stepped up their recovr the summer and, while Balagizi spent pre-season with loan club Wigan, Mabaya has now made his comeback with Liverpool under-21s.
Friday brought a 25-minute cameo as the U21s beat Hull 5-0 in a friendly at the AXA Training Centre.
Mabaya replaced Terence Miles with 65 minutes on the clock for his first appearance in 10 months.
Another player on the comeback trail, striker Oakley Cannonier, netted a hat-trick while Tommy Pilling and Billy Koumetio were also on the scoresheet.
Cannonier’s third was laid on by Mabaya, while 17-year-old Trent Kone-Doherty caught the eye with his wide play.
And cut from the first-team squad for the tour of Singapore, goalkeepers Vitezslav Jaros and Marcelo Pitaluga both played 45 minutes ahead of expected loan moves.
It was another productive afternoon for the U21s, who have also seen off Kidderminster Harriers, Blackpool and Stalybridge Celtic this summer along with a draw with Peterborough.
The overriding positive, along with Cannonier’s treble, was the long-awaited return of Mabaya.
Such was his impact on Jurgen Klopp and his staff last summer that assistant Vitor Matos praised him alongside future first-teamer Stefan Bajcetic.
“Isaac, his physical attributes are really, really good and he’s someone that can really give life to the right side of a team,” Matos said.
Liverpool handed the teenager a new long-term contract in May, and the hope will be that he can now rebuild his momentum with the U21s.
The young Reds kick off their campaign proper with a Merseyside derby at home to Everton on August 14, as part of a new-look U21 league.
It remains to be seen how Barry Lewtas‘ squad will shape up, with the side that took on Hull including a host of under-18s and players who are likely to depart.
Among those are Mateusz Musialowski, James Norris and both goalkeepers, while the inclusion of Jay Spearing from the bench suggests a shortage in midfield.
Liverpool U21s vs. Hull: Jaros (Pitaluga 45′); Miles (Mabaya 65′), Pinnington (Spearing 65′), Koumetio, Gyimah (Osborne 78′); Stephenson, Pilling, Norris; Kone-Doherty, Musialowski, Cannonier
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp ‘still working hard to sign’ another midfielder apart from Romeo Lavia
Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp is eyeing another midfielder to sign in addition to their move for Southampton star Romeo Lavia.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could sign a fourth midfielder this summer even if Romeo Lavia eventually arrives from Southampton as the Red Devils look to complete their squad transition. The German coach has seen five midfielders leave this summer, with the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho leaving gaps in his squad, and reports in Germany suggest Klopp is watching consider another deal before the season begins.
Klopp brought in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai for a total of £115m from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively. He desperately wanted to bring Lavia in to infuse a bit of youth into her aging side.
Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all free transfers at the end of June, meaning there’s plenty of room to add to Klopp’s squad ahead of the season.
His current picks apart from Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliot and Stefan Bajcetic.
And after deciding to sell captains Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi clubs Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad, the 55-year-old has returned to the market to buy two more players to strengthen his footing. his squad.
The Reds’ interest in Lavia has been well documented, with two offers already rejected for the 19-year-old Belgian. Southampton are not under pressure to sell and are holding on to a £50m valuation for the former Manchester City academy graduate, while Chelsea are also monitoring his situation.
And as they continue to discuss a fee with the Championship team, Liverpool are set to launch a move for Ryan Gravenberch. According to the Bayern Insider podcast, relayed by Voetbal Primeur, the midfielder is still open to leaving this summer.
Gravenberch joined Ajax in a £20m deal last summer but has only made three starts in the Bundesliga, with 21 substitute appearances showing his role as a backup under the spell. Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel.
The report adds that Klopp is a huge fan of the 21-year-old and believes he can reach his full potential at Anfield after a disappointing debut season in Germany.
He took a closer look at the midfield after playing 30 minutes in the 4-3 loss to the Bavarian giants on Wednesday.
Ultimately, the final decision will rest with Bayern Munich as they consider keeping him in the team, loaning him or a permanent transfer.
Gravenberch has made a public appeal for more first-team appearances at Bayern this season and hinted that he could be looking for a new club if he doesn’t get a guarantee of test time. fight.
“I was expecting to play more minutes than I did. I thought I would have more chances. It’s just wanting to play, that’s the most important thing at my age,” he said. declare.
“I hope it will be at Bayern – otherwise we will have to look further. I want to play, but the manager chooses other players. I have to accept it, but it’s hard.
“I was hoping to play more but I had to stay calm. I told everyone I don’t want another year like this. Of course you can’t always be in the starting XI, but you can always play regularly – you can win a lot of minutes.”
