By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com
There may be as but no decision in terms of Alexander-Arnold‘s future at Anfield – whether or not he’ll signal a brand new contract or depart for Actual Madrid in the summertime – and the emotional pull to this story is undoubtedly magnified by his local-lad standing.
In contrast to with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, there’s a stronger sense of possession amongst supporters in terms of considered one of their very own; which works twofold, clearly making the choice more durable for the participant himself.
For Liverpool supporters, the sight of a Scouser in a crimson shirt, enjoying week in, week out at Anfield and past is the top. Like Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones right now, there have been Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher earlier than them.
That makes the prospect of one other product of Merseyside, 19-year-old striker Danns, establishing himself as a part of Arne Slot‘s first staff all of the extra interesting.
A part of the membership since he was eight years outdated, Danns first emerged within the senior setup initially of 2024, having produced an undeniably emphatic run of type as a part of Liverpool under-18s and later the under-21s.
Referred to as into first-team coaching underneath Jürgen Klopp, he made his debut towards Luton within the Premier League one midweek, got here off the bench towards Chelsea on the weekend after which scored a brace towards Southampton within the FA Cup three days later.
“It’s a dream come true, I’ve supported the membership since beginning so to come back on and rating on the Kop finish was unreal, it doesn’t really feel actual to me, it looks like I’m in a film,” was his response after that 3-0 victory at Anfield.
Requested about how his father, former Crystal Palace, Leicester and Bolton midfielder Neil Danns – who was as soon as a part of the Liverpool academy himself – would have felt, he mentioned: “Final time once I made my debut he was crying so I don’t know what he’s going to be doing now.
“He’s within the stands watching and so is my mum, brother, sister and nan. It’s unbelievable.”
These phrases sum up precisely what enjoying for Liverpool means for an area boy like Danns, and that sheer affection acts as a driving pressure for gamers, keen to go the additional mile for the membership.
That confirmed, once more, with an influential cameo towards Accrington Stanley within the FA Cup earlier this month, with Danns coming away together with his third purpose in simply 100 minutes for Liverpool’s first staff – one each 33.3 minutes on common.
Introduced on for 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha with 18 minutes left of regular time and the Reds 2-0 up, {the teenager} produced one other impactful cameo as he gained the ball in midfield, surged up the pitch and performed in Federico Chiesa for a giant probability in entrance of purpose.
Chiesa’s effort was palmed out by goalkeeper Billy Crellin, however Danns had adopted his cross up and was readily available for a first-time end that put the earlier 76 minutes from Darwin Núñez to disgrace.
That there have been 10 months and solely three extra substitute appearances between that brace towards Southampton and Danns’ newest purpose highlights the issue he has confronted, lacking 5 months with a again harm aggravated initially of pre-season, but additionally that his trajectory has not been affected.
“I’m younger. There’s nonetheless much more to do, and hopefully much more I can do. So, yeah, wanting ahead to it,” he mirrored after the 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley.
“Clearly, the supervisor’s put religion in me right now and I’m grateful for it, to be trustworthy. I scored and I imply, like I mentioned, I’m actually grateful for the chance he’s given me. Hopefully, I can do much more if he offers me extra alternatives.”
It stays to be seen whether or not these alternatives will come this season, with Slot coy with regards to a January mortgage transfer because the likes of Plymouth, Derby and Cardiff circle, however there’s a sturdy case to argue that Danns ought to in reality keep.
His growth might speed up if given the prospect of standard first-team soccer within the Championship, however the No. 76 has already proven that he’s able to becoming in comfortably amongst Liverpool’s senior aspect.
He has taken inspiration from Roberto Firmino up to now, however there are additionally parts of Harry Kane to his sport; he is ready to function as a traditional No. 9 or a deep-dropping nine-and-a-half, as evidenced by that purpose towards Accrington Stanley.
There may be an trade to his sport together with a remarkably silky contact and the flexibility to cowl floor rapidly with the ball at his toes, whereas his ending capacity is undoubted, having translated from the academy to the first-team stage.
Danns already appears to be like higher suited to the type employed by Liverpool’s new head coach than one other of Slot’s strikers, with Núñez having struggled to date to show himself in a system which advantages from a extra rounded possibility up entrance.
There’s a rising feeling that Liverpool may and may minimize their losses on Núñez on the finish of the season, which is simply compounded by the emergence of the best new No. 9 undertaking for Slot in Danns.
“He’ll at all times, like the opposite academy gamers, give all he has. James McConnell can also be an ideal instance of that,” the pinnacle coach defined after the FA Cup win.
“If that’s your mentality, you may positively get probably the most of your potential. That’s what’s going to occur with him.”
It’s nonetheless a protracted street forward for a participant who solely turned 19 on Thursday, with Slot himself stressing that he “in all probability wants a while to seek out out if he ultimately shall be a starter for us.”
However Danns has already proven sturdy indicators that he may be the following Scouser in our staff.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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