Harry Wilson: Liverpool Youth Gone Wild

We’ve seen quite a bit of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn around the place lately. But Liverpool’s best kept secret over at Kirby is the u23s striker and captain, Harry Wilson. Wilson is having a break-out season with the Academy seniors, scoring twenty-seven goals so far. And that’s not all. Particularly noteworthy is the sheer variety of ways in which he has launched that ball into his opponent’s net. He’s scored from here and there. This way and that. He’s scored with rockets and tap-ins. The simple and the audacious. The Echo described his back-heeled goals as “impudent.” Sexy.

“I’ve really enjoyed my football this season,” Harry said.

“I’ve taken on board the extra responsibility. I’ve enjoyed it. I just try to embrace it. I try to help people around me, whether that’s talking to them or with the performances I put in. I’m really enjoying.”

He’s enjoying it so much he’ll be enjoying thinking of getting out of there and heading up to Melwood on a more regular basis soon.

Both Jürgen Klopp and Wales manager, Chris Coleman, are known to be eager to utilize Wilson’s talent in their squads. Coleman has already introduced Harry into his Welsh camp, calling him up just last month for the World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland. And Klopp will be hoping to see if Wilson’s recent uptick in form will transfer over to the senior squad. I expect the young forward will play his part in this summer’s preseason festivities with a renewed vigor, being so close to stepping up a level.

At nineteen years old, the Harry Wilson story is just beginning. But for several seasons now, we’ve seen the face and read the name. There was a time of much ado that fizzled out. There were call ups to Melwood. There were probably positive conversations. But he’s young and he’s needed to develop and work harder and find his thing. And this season his work is paying dividends.

In other words, goals, assists and leadership. A highly-esteemed combination in this football game of ours. A highly-esteemed combination, indeed.