For Liverpool fans who have been following its junior teams over the past handful of years, one name they will definitely be familiar with is that of Adam Lewis. Lewis has continually excelled when called upon to operate down Liverpool’s left, whether as left back, wing back, winger or even the occasional (albeit less impactful) cameo as centre forward. Such had been the progression of this Academy graduate’s career as a Liverpool youth that he was singled out by none other than Steven Gerrard during his one year tenure as Liverpool U18 head coach in the 2017/18 season:
If Adam can keep this consistency up I don’t think he’ll be around this team for much longer…. Going forward, I haven’t seen anyone as good as him at that age, in terms of quality and what he can deliver in the final third.
LiverpoolFC.com, November 27, 2017.
Gerrard was of course referencing the agreement he had with Liverpool head coach Jürgen Klopp that any stand out players from the U18’s group be fast-tracked by spending more time training with the senior players (later that season Curtis Jones and Rafael Camacho would become the primary beneficiaries of this policy).
Despite the many highlights which include captaining Gerrard’s U18s team before making the transition to Neil Critchley’s U23s, scoring and assisting some amazing goals (see clip below) and representing England at U19 and U20 levels, Lewis’ senior career has been blighted by long term injuries at crucial times. Having suffered a broken leg back in 2016, he is only recently returning from four months on the sidelines due to knee ligament damage sustained just three days after being named to Liverpool’s bench for their Carabao Cup win over MK Dons in September. As a result, Lewis was not involved in the 5-5 thriller at Anfield with Arsenal in the same competition weeks later.
This was the season people behind the scenes at Anfield were hoping (and still do) would prove the breakthrough for a player being groomed as an understudy to Andy Robertson at left back. It has been one of Liverpool’s “least kept secrets” for the past three years or so, but particularly in the summer of 2019 when Alberto Moreno left the club on a free transfer. The potential of Lewis and emergence of the equally talented Yasser Larouci were enough to convince Klopp to first check from within before spending on a new left back who would most likely get limited minutes given Robbo’s form and fitness. Both were included in Liverpool’s pre-season tour, with the latter exhibiting the better form and readiness to play a role this season.
Ironically, it is now an injury to Larouci (one year his junior) that will hand Lewis the opportunity to showcase his talent at the biggest stage imaginable: a sold out Anfield for Liverpool’s FA Cub replay against Shrewsbury Town later today. Neil Critchley has again been left in charge of head coach affairs as he was for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa, and he looks set to give Lewis a first start for the senior team. Of course Tony Gallacher who did his own stock no harm against Villa in December might be preferred, possibly allowing for Lewis to push for the position at the left of a front three (“the Mane role”). This is assuming that Curtis Jones will be deployed in the midfield and not further forward.
Regardless, Adam Lewis now looks set to at the very least play a role in tonight’s game and is sure to have many friends and family in the crowd cheering him on along with the rest of the Anfield faithful. Hopefully this becomes the first of many senior appearances and kickstarts the long path to becoming a Liverpool player he started since joining the club at age six.
Walk On Adam!
Echeta is a lifelong football/soccer enthusiast who doubles up as an occasional short movie producer, retired teenage rapper and all around tech guru.
