Kieran Morrison is being hailed for his leadership qualities at Liverpool U21s. The praise comes after Morrison scored twice in a 4-2 win over Tottenham on Sunday.
Prince Cisse, son of former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse, and Will Wright also scored in the match.
Morrison’s Fine Form and Leadership
Rob Page’s side are currently fourth in the league, with three games remaining in the regular season. Page praised 19-year-old Morrison, who has now scored 10 goals in his past six Premier League 2 appearances. He has also captained the side in recent weeks.
“You see him work hard in training and giving him the armband has given him another lift as well. We’ve given him that responsibility and he’s absolutely shining with it,” said Page.
Morrison primarily plays as a right winger who likes to cut in on his left foot, but can also play in midfield. He made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup this season.
- Morrison is a Northern Ireland youth international.
- He has been training frequently with Arne Slot’s side.
- He has been on the bench for the first team on a number of occasions.
Maturity Key to Improvement
Page said that the biggest difference this season has been Morrison’s “maturity.”
“I saw from day one that he had ability but there were certain things he was doing, not just on the field but off the field too,” he added.
“Giving him the armband has made him step up and say: ‘Well, I can’t be the class clown any more and I have to lead by example.’ He’s doing that and some, and I’m so proud of him.”
First Team Opportunity?
With uncertainty over Florian Wirtz’s back injury, Morrison may feature more for the first team in the coming weeks. Page insists he is someone who can “rise to the occasion”.
Morrison was with Manchester United until he joined Liverpool when he was 13. Asked what the conversation was like when he gave him the armband, Page said: “He wants to please people. It’s a great trait to have, so it’s nice for us to be able to give him those moments.”
“Some players can’t handle the pressure but some people rise to the occasion and he’s absolutely done that. He relishes it.”