As is often the case with pre-season tours, supporters are provided the chance to witness lesser-known names in action for Jurgen Klopp's side.
Liverpool have named a 37-man squad for their 2022 tour, which features a number of Academy talents who will be eager to make a positive impression. Stepping outside of their usual surroundings at the AXA Training Centre, the youngsters involved have been provided the perfect platform to mark their mark.
One of those individuals is 19-year-old midfielder Tom Hill, whose journey within the Reds' youth setup has been heavily disrupted after suffering serious ACL damage during a training session which led to Hill undergoing knee surgery in September 2020.
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Prior to this unfortunate incident, the Formby-born midfielder had enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks having joined the club since U6 level. His breakthrough arrived the 2019/20 season, which saw him represent both the under-18s and under-23s as well as making his first-team debut for the Reds.
Hill completed the full 90 minutes of Liverpool's 5-0 League Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Aston Villa in December 2019, which coincided with Klopp's side participating in the Club World Cup. Just two months after this unforgettable outing, he penned his first professional contract.
Things took a turn for the worse in 2020 after Hill's setback, though Liverpool demonstrated a significant show of faith in his potential by agreeing a long-term deal shortly after the operation on his knee. A significant period of rehabilitation followed at the club's AXA Training Centre, which kept the promising talent out of action for a total of close to 20 months.
Hill made his long-awaited comeback in May of this year for Liverpool under-18s against Tottenham Hotspur and made this an occasion to remember by scoring on his return. Arriving inside the penalty area, he connected with Isaac Mabaya's cross to help the team on their way to overturning a two-goal deficit. At the full-time whistle, Hill embraced Academy lead physiotherapist Paul Kelly and other backroom members who played a key role in his return to full fitness.
Being named in Liverpool's pre-season tour will likely have been a special moment for the teenager, whose undeniable resilience has eventually been rewarded.
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