The Athletic’s Prospects series is designed to identify young players with the potential to make it through to the senior ranks.
No youth player is ever going to be the finished article, and there are always areas for improvement, but for those who might make it, there are signs on display during games — even the ones that end in a heavy defeat.
The Athletic looked at Liverpool Under-19s as they travelled to take on Inter in the UEFA Youth League. This is a prestigious competition that gives young players a flavour of what it is like to come up against different football cultures and philosophies in challenging environments.
Liverpool were well beaten on the day in Italy — losing 5-0 — but there were still positives to draw from the fixture. Kieran Morrison provided some of them.
This week, The Athletic takes a look at the Liverpool winger.
The player
Name: Kieran Morrison
Club: Liverpool
Date of birth: November 9, 2006 (19)
Position: Attacking/wide midfield
The back story
Morrison was born in Manchester and began his professional coaching at Manchester United, but he switched to Liverpool in 2019, where he has progressed through the age ranks.
He made his debut for the under-18s in September 2022 and his debut for the under-21s in January 2023.
He signed his first professional contract in April 2024, made his first team debut in a Carabao Cup game against Crystal Palace at Anfield in October of this year, and has recently been training with Arne Slot’s first team.
So far this season, he has made 13 appearances for the under-21s, has scored twice, and has provided four assists.
Originally used as a No 8 in central midfield, he has been used more recently as a wide player, typically playing on the right flank, where he loves to take on defenders.
“There’s no better feeling than to get the ball, and there’s one or two guys there, and I just try to take them on,” he said in an interview with LiverpoolFC.com last year. I don’t care if I lose it, it’s football, isn’t it?”
Morrison also has a reputation for scoring spectacular goals from long range.
He qualifies to play internationally for Northern Ireland through a grandparent and has represented his country at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.
What we witnessed
Morrison first caught The Athletic’s eye in an earlier tie in the UEFA Youth League, a home win over PSV.
Striker Josh Sonni-Lambie was the focus of that scouting mission, but Morrison’s lively play on the right flank caught the eye, working in tandem with left-winger Trent Kone-Doherty.
What stood out in that fixture was how direct Morrison was, attacking the full-back whenever he could. He liked to cut in from the right onto his left foot and went close several times in the 1-0 win, which came courtesy of a last-minute Kone-Doherty shot.
Away at Inter, it was a different proposition, and Inter found themselves 2-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes. Liverpool were left chasing the game.
Again, Morrison started down the right flank and displayed the same determination to carry the ball and commit defenders, but he received little support in the first part of the game.
As Liverpool struggled to get into the Inter third of the pitch with progressive passes, Morrison was keen to get them further up the pitch by carrying it at speed.
Morrison playing for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
He was Liverpool’s biggest threat, and he earned them a penalty when his shot struck the arm of a defender. While he stepped up to take the spot kick, his shot struck the foot of the post, despite sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
He didn’t drop his head and showed resilience to keep attacking the Inter defenders, and had two more efforts on goal before half-time.
Morrison moved into a central position late on after several tactical changes. Inter finished as 5-0 winners, inflicting Liverpool’s biggest ever Youth League loss.
Morrison still had another impressive run and shot that was saved well at the near post by Inter goalkeeper Matteo Farronato, and he didn’t show signs of giving up.
If his one-on-one attacking play is his strength, his defending in reverse situations is an area for improvement. On two occasions, he was too easily beaten.
In a previous round, in an exciting 5-4 win away at Eintracht Frankfurt, he provided three assists, but sometimes his determination to be direct and go for goal means he doesn’t see the better-placed team-mate.
The raw ingredients are there, and he appears to have the right attitude on the pitch. Despite the heavy defeat, his body language in the game didn’t change.
The fact that Slot has taken notice of the teenager this season means he is doing plenty right, but he must build on his solid progress.