Carra's starlet prediction
8th May 2010 - Latest News
Jamie Carragher predicts Daniel Ayala will continue to 'climb up the ladder' after being impressed by the development of the rising star this season.
The Spaniard has made five first-team appearances so far this term and has also been a commanding presence in John McMahon's Reserves.
Carragher believes Ayala has a bright future ahead of him and backed the 19-year-old to progress even further.
"I don't think there's one particular area of his game that has improved, it just seems a natural steady progression," he told LFC Weekly.
"Daniel came over here as a 15 or 16 year old. He's 19 now and you can see how he has grown in confidence with the experience.
"He became a big part of the reserve team, then stepped up with the first team in training and now he's getting a game so he's climbing up the ladder all the time.
"Now he's got the first few games out of the way, he'll have got those initial nerves out of the way so hopefully his game will improve again."
Rafael Benitez drafted Ayala into Liverpool's defence for the recent 4-0 win over Burnley - and he did not disappoint as the centre-back turned in an accomplished performance at Turf Moor.
It was the teenager's second start for the Reds and his display caught the eye of defensive colleague Carragher.
"He's only played two games but we've had two clean sheets," said Carra. "It was a lot more difficult at Burnley because we were under pressure in the first half but for a young lad to come in, in what was again a makeshift defence in only his second senior start, he did very, very well. Although the result makes it look easy, it certainly wasn't."
8th May 2010 - Latest News
Jamie Carragher predicts Daniel Ayala will continue to 'climb up the ladder' after being impressed by the development of the rising star this season.
The Spaniard has made five first-team appearances so far this term and has also been a commanding presence in John McMahon's Reserves.
Carragher believes Ayala has a bright future ahead of him and backed the 19-year-old to progress even further.
"I don't think there's one particular area of his game that has improved, it just seems a natural steady progression," he told LFC Weekly.
"Daniel came over here as a 15 or 16 year old. He's 19 now and you can see how he has grown in confidence with the experience.
"He became a big part of the reserve team, then stepped up with the first team in training and now he's getting a game so he's climbing up the ladder all the time.
"Now he's got the first few games out of the way, he'll have got those initial nerves out of the way so hopefully his game will improve again."
Rafael Benitez drafted Ayala into Liverpool's defence for the recent 4-0 win over Burnley - and he did not disappoint as the centre-back turned in an accomplished performance at Turf Moor.
It was the teenager's second start for the Reds and his display caught the eye of defensive colleague Carragher.
"He's only played two games but we've had two clean sheets," said Carra. "It was a lot more difficult at Burnley because we were under pressure in the first half but for a young lad to come in, in what was again a makeshift defence in only his second senior start, he did very, very well. Although the result makes it look easy, it certainly wasn't."
