Liverpool talent continues path towards Andoni Iraola’s first-team with another impressive loan display

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Of all the talented youngsters to arrive at the club over the last couple of years, perhaps the most exciting is centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who showed off just how high his ceiling is during a stunning pre-season with Liverpool this summer.Ndukwe has since moved to Levante on loan in order to be granted a UK work permit, and although things started off slowly for the 18-year-old in Spain, he made his first start – and duly scored an injury-time equaliser – against Sevilla on Monday. Though there was no goal this time, the Austrian once again showed why there is such excitement surrounding him.With Szoboszlai, Isak and Gakpo still doubts, is this how you would line up against Brentford? 🤔 Gravenberch is suspended for this one Ifeanyi Ndukwe delivers again for Levante Although there was some frustration over Ndukwe’s playing time after initially joining Levante, this was always likely to be a premature reaction.

Having got his considerably long legs under the table in Valencia, Ndukwe is now starting to show what he is all about, and it is impressive in itself that coach Luis Castro has decided to drop the experienced Aissa Mandi for the Liverpool loanee. The standout thing about him during his pre-season with Liverpool was his ability on the ball, and Ndukwe demonstrated this at Riazor, where he completed 50 of his 58 attempted passes and an impressive four out of five long balls.

Four of those passes were aimed into the final third, demonstrating his front-footedness, while Ndukwe also managed three touches in Deportivo’s box. Playing in the left central position of Levante’s back line, Ndukwe gave an insight into how he could one day step up and fill Virgil van Dijk’s role for Liverpool, and although there are still steps to be made and a long season of refinement ahead, this was another good step towards a future at Anfield.