Liverpool have two players who can now influence Andoni Iraola change

Liverpool have taken a host of Academy and young players out for their three-game tour of the United States

Liverpool are now Stateside having arrived at their Chicago base on Monday to begin their US tour. And the three-game sojourn will provide a first glimpse for supporters of what to expect under new head coach Andoni Iraola.

However, with so many first-team players either injured or yet to start pre-season training having featured in the recent World Cup, there will be an opportunity for others to stake a claim.

Not least the group of Academy and younger players who can expect minutes, particularly during the first friendly against Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday night.

But who should fans be keeping a keen eye on in particular? Our ECHO writers take a look...

Ian Doyle

Kieran Morrison is among those to have made the trip to the United States. But there was a real chance he could have been elsewhere altogether as last season approached a conclusion.

The 19-year-old was reaching the end of his contract and could have left as a free agent until putting pen to paper on a new deal in late May.

It had been a breakthrough campaign for the winger, who ended it by making his first outing for the Northern Ireland national team.

Morrison is the first to admit his senior Liverpool debut in the League Cup defeat to Crystal Palace - reward for an outstanding showing in the UEFA Youth League the previous week at Eintracht Frankfurt - did not showcase his abilities in a much-changed team.

Better was his cameo from the bench in the FA Cup win at Wolves, while he gained experience of being in the matchday squad on 13 other occasions.

Morrison also ended the season as under-21s captain and scored 12 goals in Liverpool's final 11 Premier League 2 games.

With so many senior forwards missing or unavailable, particularly on his preferred right flank, the next fortnight should represent a chance for the teenager to underline the progress he has made since the turn of the year.

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Mark Jones

Trey Nyoni managed 14 appearances for the first-team last season, 10 of which came after the turn of the year. And so while the 19-year-old is hardly a new face around the group, he could just be about to become an important one.

The midfielders who have changed hands for exorbitant fees already this summer all have their own qualities of course, but in a world where battling for possession and doing the sensible thing with the ball is being valued so highly, surely it makes sense to try and grow your own rather than shell out?

Liverpool need to make signings in most areas of the pitch this summer, but numbers-wise the central midfield stock looks about right as it is. That would change with departures of course, but Nyoni is in a perfect position to make an impact in the here and now.

There has long been talk of a potential loan move for the England youth international, but having witnessed the emergence of close friend Rio Ngumoha last season, he could just be primed to take the leap and become a strong first-team option for Andoni Iraola.

He will surely be viewing this tour as vital for his season ahead, as whatever happens he is going to need a campaign of somewhat regular first-team football.

There is no reason why that can't be at Liverpool, and that could all start here.

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