A far more positive view of our position...
Rising stars
Sam Yesil
Samed Yesil The German striker was signed for £1m last week and there are some at Anfield who believe he can make an immediate impact. The 18-year-old, who has represented his country at under-16, 17 and 18 level, scored 23 goals in 20 games for Bayer Leverkusen's Under-19 side last season and has the found the net 19 times in 20 appearances for his country, including six goals for Germany at the Under-17 World Cup last year. May struggle to adapt to the physical demands of senior football but his appetite and attitude cannot be questioned. "I get stuck in where it hurts because I want to score goals. It doesn't matter if I get kicked or fouled. The important thing is I score," Yesil said recently.
Michael Ngoo Having let Andy Carroll go, perhaps it is unlikely that Rodgers will turn to an equally physical striker but Ngoo would appear to have all the raw materials. Having finished as the top scorer in the reserves last season, the 6ft 4in 19-year-old scored a hat-trick against Bray Wanderers in pre-season and showed enough to suggest he is far more than just a big man. Consistency has been Ngoo's problem since joining from Southend, but the rangy England Under-20 striker is improving quickly.
Dani Pacheco
The Spaniard was just hours from joining Real Valladolid on loan last Friday but has remained at Anfield and is desperate for a chance. Did little to convince Rodgers in pre-season and has still to fulfil the vast promise he had as a 15-year-old when he graduated from Barcelona's famed La Masia school. He has, however, been an ever-present in Spain's all conquering youth teams, featuring for the under-21s last season. An outside bet at best.
Adam Morgan
Adam Morgan The 18-year-old is perhaps the youngster furthest up the pecking order at Anfield, having impressed Rodgers with his willingness to learn and tireless work-rate during pre-season. Was given his first competitive start against Hearts at Anfield last week and will be given more chances to impress. The local boy has been at Anfield since the age of 10, when he scored 80 goals in one season for the Liverpool Under-10s and went on to score in 13 successive matches for Liverpool's Reserves and Academy sides in 2010/11, scoring 21 goals in the season. "Every time I've watched him, whether it's live or on TV, he's always in and around the area where it matters, and that's the 18-yard box to score goals. As a striker, that's a great trait to have, and he looks great if he's got it," former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie said.
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