10 young players to watch

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MUNICH, GERMANY – JULY 26: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Dominic Solanke of Liverpool during a training session at Rottach-Egern on July 26, 2017 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) /

8. Dominic Solanke, striker, Liverpool

Like Abraham, Dominic Solanke wasn’t getting his chances at Chelsea. The fact the 19-year-old was able to swap the Blues for top-four rivals Liverpool shows how highly he’s regarded.

Such high regard is merited by a striker who combines physicality with pace and technical acumen. Those attributes will find a home in the expansive, high-energy pressing game preached by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Even so, an affinity with Klopp’s style of play doesn’t mean Solanke’s path to the Reds’ starting XI is a clear one. After all, Klopp built a fluid forward line around the flair of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, and the pace of Sadio Mane last season, and has added Mohamed Salah to the mix this summer.

What gives Solanke a chance to play is the lack of dependable natural center-forwards on the books at Anfield. Daniel Sturridge is a quality finisher, but injury prone, while Divock Origi is an inconsistent target man. Meanwhile, Danny Ings has endured an injury nightmare since moving to Merseyside in 2015.

If Solanke quickly makes a positive impression, he could be starting sooner than he thinks.