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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Hannah Pinnock

Liverpool's youngest ever player finds himself without a club as three new stars emerge

On September 26 2012, Jerome Sinclair became Liverpool's youngest ever player when he came on as a substitute in a 2-1 victory against West Brom in the League Cup.

His senior Reds debut came less than a week after his 16th birthday and he still holds the club record to this day. He's one of a handful of youngsters to make their debut at 16 and while some still play for Liverpool to this day, others continued their development elsewhere.

We've taken a look at the Reds' five youngest debutants and where they are now.

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Jerome Sinclair

Sinclair went on to make five senior appearances for Liverpool and scored one goal before he departed on a free transfer in 2016. He joined then- Premier League side Watford but was loaned out to Birmingham City midway through the 2016/17 campaign.

He made just 14 senior appearances and scored one goal for the Hornets during his five years with the club, most of which was spent out on loan. Sinclair spent time at Sunderland, Oxford United, Dutch second tier side VVV-Venlo and in Bulgaria with CSKA-Sofia.

Sinclair left Watford at the end of the 2020/21 campaign following the expiration of his contract at Vicarage Road. Now aged 26, the former England youth international remains without a club, despite a brief trial with Oxford United following his Watford exit.

Harvey Elliott

Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott became the youngest ever player to play in a Premier League match when he came on as a late substitute for Fulham in a defeat against Wolves back in 2019. He'd not long turned 16 and was snapped up by the Reds just months afterwards.

The record was broken earlier this month by Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri, but Elliott remains one of the youngest players to ever feature for Liverpool. In September 2019, at 16 years and five months, he started the Reds' 2-0 victory away at MK Dons in the Carabao Cup.

Now aged 19, Elliott has gone on to make just shy of 30 first team appearances in all competitions and is already establishing himself as a starter under Jurgen Klopp. He had a successful loan spell at Blackburn Rovers in the 2020/21 season and his progress last term was only hindered by a devastating ankle injury.

This season, Elliott has featured in every game in every competition so far and scored in the 9-0 victory over Bournemouth at the end of last month.

Jack Robinson

At 16 years and eight months, defender Jack Robinson became the club's youngest ever player to feature in a league match when he came on as a substitute in a 0-0 draw against Hull City back in 2010. He came on late in the second-half and replaced Ryan Babel to complete the first of just 11 senior appearances for the Reds.

In February 2013, Robinson joined Wolves on loan for the remainder of the 2012/13 season and then spent the 2013/14 season with Blackpool. He left on a permanent deal in August 2014, joining Queens Park Rangers, yet was immediately loaned out to Huddersfield Town.

He made 42 appearances in total for QPR and left on a free transfer in 2018 to join Nottingham Forest. In January 2020, Robinson joined Sheffield United and has now made over 50 appearances for the Blades. However, he's yet to feature for the Championship club this season as he's currently sidelined through injury.

James Norris

Liverpool academy starlet James Norris made his senior debut against Aston Villa in the League Cup back in 2019, aged 16 years and eight months. He was part of the club's youngest ever starting line-up as the rest of the first team were out in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Reds bowed out of the competition after they were beaten 5-0, but Norris, now 19, has gone on to make one other senior appearance. He came on as a late substitute in the FA Cup win over Shrewsbury last season.

This term, he's already got nine appearances for the academy under his belt as he's featured in Premier League 2, the EFL trophy and UEFA Youth League.

Kaide Gordon

Kaide Gordon was signed from Derby County in February 2021 and he made his first senior appearance for the club in a League Cup victory over Norwich City in September last year.

At just 16 years and 11 months, he's the fifth youngest player to ever feature for Liverpool. He's now made four appearances for the first team in all competitions and the 17-year-old scored his first goal for the club in the FA Cup victory over Shrewsbury last term.

However, Gordon hasn't featured for Liverpool at any level since February as he recovers from a pelvic problem. It is understood he's currently following his own specialised training programme and is close to making a return.

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