We've asked five experts to name a player to watch for 2009-10, with their selections featuring on .tv all this week. Today, Kop legend and LFC TV reserves pundit David Fairclough picks a striker who'll start at Melwood in pre-season.
One To Watch
Player profile: Finnish hotshot Lauri Dalla Valle is one of the most exciting prospects at Liverpool.
The striker certainly knows where the net is, firing 20 goals in 28 appearances for the U18s after arriving from boyhood side JIPPO in 2008.
A host of European clubs were interested in Dalla Valle prior to his arrival on Merseyside. Chelsea were rumoured to be circling, while the teenager actually spent three months at Inter Milan before deciding to return to JIPPO.
International recognition has also been forthcoming, with Dalla Valle scoring goals at U16, U17 and U19 level.
However, the youngster could yet choose to represent the Azzurri because of his Italian father.
He is contracted to Liverpool until June 2011.
lauri dalla valle under 18s under-18s reserves youth cup academy
David Fairclough says: "He is a natural goalscorer - he has that knack of getting in positions and taking chances that you just can't teach.
"What else does he offer? Well he's deceptively mobile and has a bit of pace, which is so important for modern strikers.
"I am loathe to compare youngsters to players gone by, so I won't do that to him. But I would say that, of the young strikers we've had at the club over the last decade or so, he's right up there.
"I looked at him last year and thought he was ready to make the step up to reserve team football. I'm sure that will happen now and within a few months of him playing at this level we will know how special he is."
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N164723090615-1028.htm