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When a club has American owners and a large American fanbase, eventually people are going to clamor to get an American or two in to the side. With a lack of true top-shelf soccer talent in the nation, though, there's only a couple of players who would have a significant impact on a squad of Liverpool's stature.
Still, there's a number of American players who could play a role at Anfield. In addition to some useful veterans, there's some potentially exciting youth talent carrying American passports as well. While Marc Pelosi and Villyan Bijev are already in Liverpool's youth system, adding more American talent that has a better shot at contributing to the squad would excite a number of fans.
Terrence Boyd, Striker, Rapid Vienna
Boyd is considered by many to be the future of the striker position for the US men's national team. While he has yet to score for the senior side, he has been capped nine times and has generally impressed when he's played. With his club side, Rapid Vienna, he's been a force to be reckoned with, bagging 20 goals in 37 league matches over the last year and a half for the Austrian side, plus another eight goals in 17 Europa matches.
Boyd's tall and strong frame would give him an easier time to adjusting to the physicality of the EPL, and his athleticism would also go a long ways towards helping lessen his learning curve. While it's unlikely he'd be more than a rotational or backup option at first, he does still have some potential left to tap, and could be a valuable piece over the next few seasons.
Aron Johannsson, Striker, AZ Alkmaar
More Gifts
More Gifts
Johannsson is another key cog of America's future in attack. Equally capable up front or cutting incisively in from the left, the thrice-capped international has had a huge year. He's bagged 13 goals in 18 domestic matches for his Dutch side, easily filling the void left in AZ's front line by the departure by the departure of fellow American international Jozy Altidore. However, he's scored just once in eight Europa matches, which is of mild concern given the lower standard of defense in the Eredivise.
Still, Johnasson has a lot of potential and, with the right coaching he has a chance of becoming a very good player indeed. If Liverpool were to gamble on any of the Americans on this list, Johannsson is the one I'd want them to choose.
Sacha Kljestan, Central Midfielder, RSC Anderlecht
Kljestan's probably the least-sexy name on this list, but he's been a steady and mostly reliable player in various midfield roles throughout his career. With 42 caps to his name as an on-again, off-again senior international, Liverpool could do a lot worse than to add Kljestan as a utility midfielder if they wanted to reinforce the squad's depth in the middle of the pitch.
Fabian Johnson, Left Back, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
A versatile player, Johnson is equally comfortable with both feet and as a result can play along both sides of the pitch. More comfortable on the left, he's one of the several options that US national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann has tried at left back over the last two years, but injuries have slowed his progress significantly. Still, as a versatile depth option who could potentially push Jose Enrique for the left back job once he's acclimated, Johnson is well worth considering.
Other names to consider: John Anthony Brooks, Center Back, Hertha Berlin (Germany); Joshua Gatt, Right Winger, Molde FK (Norway); Sean Johnson, Goalkeeper, Chicago Fire (USA)
