A host of Liverpool talents are now showing their quality under Jurgen Klopp after previous links with Preston North End.
Liverpool have been one of the stories of the week.
The Reds won the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea before advancing in the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Southampton.
That may not sound all that impressive, but Jurgen Klopp has been showcasing the club’s top young talent.
Yes, injuries to key players mean that Klopp hasn’t really had much choice.
The quality of those young players has been phenomenal though and a few of the names on show could have played for North End had things gone a little differently…
Caoimhin Kelleher
Kelleher may not be a youngster at 25 but isn’t a regular starter in the Liverpool first team due to the presence of Alisson.
The Irishman seemed like a prime target ahead of the 2020 January transfer window.
PNE targeted a loan deal for the Irishman, and allegedly even spoke to Liverpool loan manager Julian Ward about finalising a move.
Kelleher was just like Alan Browne in that he was on the books at Ringmahon Rangers in Ireland, and a loan made sense amid questions over Declan Rudd at the time.
No deal was done though and Kelleher has now become arguably the finest backup goalkeeper in the Premier League.
The Reds would now want more than £20million for Kelleher, who has developed into a quality stopper despite not going out on loan.
Conor Bradley
Right back Bradley has seriously impressed of late, stepping up in style with Trent Alexander-Arnold currently out injured.
The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers but PNE had interest in taking over that deal.
North End reportedly held an interest in taking Bradley for the second half of the campaign but Liverpool decided to leave him at Bolton.
That ensured that Bradley was playing week in and week out, which certainly appears to have aided his development as he now makes a big first-team impact.
PNE fans would surely love to see Bradley at right wing back but that door has surely closed now.
Bobby Clark
Midfielder Clark came on in the Carabao Cup final and started the win over Southampton, impressing with his confidence on the ball in both games.
Clark has been a prominent name in the North End rumour mill for a while.
Reports ahead of last season’s January window suggested that PNE were interested in taking Clark on loan.
The links to Clark emerged again last summer but Calvin Ramsay was the only loan loanee to arrive from Liverpool.
Clark is likely to be a player on the North End radar, especially as boss Ryan Lowe worked with his father Lee at Bury.
A loan exit may still be in the pipeline for Clark this summer, but whether his recent performances have taken him out of North End’s range remain to be seen.