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Jamie Carragher tipped three kids for stardom in 2020

Where are they now? The 3 Liverpool kids tipped for stardom by Jamie Carragher in 2020

Ben Stewart •

Liverpool have an excellent reputation when it comes to developing youngsters, but what happened to the three kids that Jamie Carragher tipped for success in 2020?

During an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Carragher namechecked three Liverpool youngsters who he thought could make an impact in the first team.

We’ve revisited the three youngsters that Carragher mentioned and have checked out where they are four years later.

Curtis Jones

“When he plays in the younger team, it almost looks like he’s a first-team player dropping down to play with the younger players,” Carragher said when describing Jones in 2020.

“The one criticism of this Liverpool team is sometimes a lack of creativity from central midfield, and I think he could provide that.”

Carragher pretty much nailed it with this shout. Since the 2020-21 campaign, Jones has made 110 appearances for Liverpool and he’s arguably playing some of the best football of his career right now.

The local lad has gained the trust of Jurgen Klopp and it’s great to see an academy prospect make a name for himself in the senior squad. Of the three Liverpool youngsters that Carragher namechecked in 2020, Jones is the only one who is still at the club today.

Neco Williams

Around 2020 there was plenty of talk about who could back up Trent Alexander-Arnold. James Milner filled in at right back every now and again, but the Reds were seeking a younger alternative.

“I do think Neco Williams, with the way he has played, you wouldn’t think about going into the market to buy anyone,” Carragher said in 2020.

The Welsh full-back looked bright during his early days with Liverpool and he continued to impress while out on loan at Fulham.

While plenty of fans wanted to see more of the youngster at Anfield, the club cashed in on him during the 2022 summer transfer window. Nottingham Forest paid around £17million for his services which was a deal too good to refuse.

Since making the move to the City Ground, Williams has been in and out of the starting XI and has played in a number of different roles.

Given that Liverpool now have Conor Bradley waiting in the wings, they probably made the right call to cash in on Williams when they did.

Ki-Jana Hoever

The last player that Carragher mentioned was Hoever. After being picked up as a youngster from Ajax, it was hoped that the Dutch defender could make an impact in the senior squad in the years to come.

However, after making just four senior appearances, Wolves snapped the defender up for a reported £9million fee in September 2020.

The 22-year-old has made 25 appearances for Wolves since making the switch and he has spent the last couple of seasons out on loan with Championship outfit Stoke City.

Predominately used as a right-back, Hoever is also capable of doing a job in the centre of defence. His contract with Wolves runs until 2026 and it remains to be seen if he will make the grade at Molineux.

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