Liverpool: Once dubbed the next Sterling, Reds flop is now worse than Woodburn saga

Liverpool have suffered their fair share of talented youth players tantalising a glimpse of Steven Gerrard-esque potential with a prodigious introduction to life on the senior stage, only to fall utterly flat.

There have been some notable success stories, of course, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones two integral members of Jurgen Klopp‘s ambitious squad, while talented prospects such as Jarell Quansah and Ben Doak have not yet solidified their status as starring Premier League players, though they are certainly on track.

There are, however, some bitter cases of unharnessed talent throughout the German’s illustrious reign, with perhaps the most salient example that of Ben Woodburn.

How good was Ben Woodburn?

Woodburn was touted for big things in the fledgling phase of his career, but when he scored against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup in November 2016, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the club’s distinguished history, Anfield erupted, certain a new hero had been born.

That goal was his only direct contribution for the Reds, making 11 total appearances and completing several loan spells, never quite performing at a level high enough to warrant a spot in Klopp’s senior plans.

Unfortunately, Woodburn never really kicked on and departed to Preston North End last summer when his contract on Merseyside expired.

He would play 42 times last term but was primarily utilised as a rotation player, scoring twice and supplying three assists – one of those goals, however, did come against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

This season, he has yet to start for the Championship high-fliers in the league but has made eight substitute appearances, also scoring in his one cup appearance against Salford City.

The Wales international isn’t alone in having failed to live up to the billing at Anfield, with Sheyi Ojo another to have fallen by the wayside.

How good was Sheyi Ojo?

Bursting onto the scene at youth level with MK Dons, Liverpool secured a swoop for a 14-year-old Ojo in 2011, for a figure believed to be around £2m.

Making his Reds debut in 2016, Ojo enjoyed an exciting loan spell with Wolves in the Championship – posting three goals and four assists – before being recalled by Liverpool and enjoying some match action across the latter phase of the football year.

Indeed, the dynamic winger impressed and then some, earning five starts late into the Premier League season and registering three assists, also scoring and assisting for the Reds against Exeter City across two legs in the FA Cup.

So impressive was the starlet that he started drawing some big comparisons to Raheem Sterling, who had risen to the fore with Liverpool and joined Manchester City in a £49m deal in July 2015, which was one month before Ojo’s loan move to the Old Gold.

His gliding, graceful gait, blistering pace and innate skill was reminiscent to Sterling, but what differentiated him was his natural left-footedness, hinting at a future as a first-class right-winger given the composure he had exhibited in front of goal in the early days of his career.

It didn’t work out in the end though, and Ojo’s really is a case of failed application and an inability to harness his natural talent and channel it into something consistent, and while he remains a popular figure on Merseyside for the flair at his feet, he has endured incessant failure over many years now.

At 26 years old, the Watford-born ace is undoubtedly a worse blunder than Woodburn; while the Welshman failed to live up to his potential, he is still only 23 and remains a member of Preston’s burgeoning squad.

Where is Sheyi Ojo now?

When Liverpool cut their ties with Ojo in 2022, it had been over five years since he last donned the famous red shirt, flattering to deceive over a number of years and loan stints and failing to live up to that lofty early promise.

A spate of injuries proved detrimental to his progress across his wandering journey across various outfits, with such miserable luck severing any possibility of fresh terms with the Anfield side.

He enjoyed some success with Cardiff City in the Championship in 2020/21, scoring five goals and supplying seven assists in what stands as the most productive campaign of his career.

But after joining the club on a permanent transfer last summer after his contract expired with Liverpool, Ojo failed to replicate for former feats and only bagged twice across 39 appearances across all competitions.

Having failed last year, Cardiff decided he was best placed elsewhere, and allowed him to join Belgian outfit KV Kortrijk on a season-long loan deal, and so far, he has yet to score from seven matches, earning one assist.

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Liverpool’s Joe Gomez claims £50m Chelsea attacker is one of his toughest ever opponentsPhoto by Gustavo Pantano/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez claims £50m Chelsea attacker is one of his toughest ever opponents
Thu 12 October 2023 07:00
Dom Toner
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez has named Chelsea attacker Raheem Sterling as one of his toughest ever opponents.

Joe Gomez, who plays right-back or centre-back for Liverpool, has been discussing some of the best players he’s faced during his career.

Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, 28, has been mentioned as very difficult to come up against.

We’ve seen the £50million (Daily Mail) Blues forward torment Premier League defences for a long time now, mainly at previous clubs Manchester City and Liveprool.

Manchester City v Liverpool FC – Premier League
Photo by Matt McNulty – Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images
When asked which opponent has given him the longest day, Gomez told Total Media: “[Leroy] Sane when he was at Manchester City, direct. The whole game I know it’s a long game. There’s not as many direct wingers, Wilfried Zaha is still of the nature… Sane, Raheem, Wilf, those wingers that are just direct.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool FC – Premier League
Photo by Gustavo Pantano/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Sterling’s directness and pace is such a difficult combination for opponents to try deal with.

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We’ve not seen the very best of the English speedster yet in Chelsea colours, but there’s definitely signs during this second season at Stamford Bridge that he’s getting back to his sharpest.

He put in a memorable performance in the final game before the international break, scoring and assisting in the important Premier League win against Burnley.

Blues midfielder Conor Gallagher recently described Sterling as a “top player”, as quoted by Football Daily.

If Sterling can recreate his peak form, Chelsea’s forward line is going to be a lot more potent and threatening in the months ahead.

With his low centre of gravity and close control, all defenders are going to hate him running at them in the final third.

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