'Unbelievable' Ki-Jana Hoever making a big impression at Liverpool already
The 16-year-old is looking a real prospect and is catching the eye in the same way a fellow Dutchman is at Anfield
Virgil van Dijk is not the only Dutch defender making a big impression at Liverpool, it seems.
While the £75 million man continues to establish himself among the world’s elite, at the Reds’ Academy they’re already starting to talk about one of his countrymen.
Ki-Jana Hoever is just 16 years old, but already he’s making inroads with Liverpool’s Under-23 side. On Sunday, he made his first Premier League 2 appearance, helping Neil Critchley’s team to an eye-catching win over league leaders Everton at Goodison Park.
It was some performance from the teenager; assured, calm, classy in possession and solid in defence. Critchley, not a man prone to exaggeration, was suitably impressed.
"Unbelievable," was his assessment. "Sixteen years old? Just... wow, really!"
Hoever had played for the Under-23s last Wednesday, as a team full of Under-18 players were hammered 7-0 at home to Villarreal in the Premier League International Cup.
A chastening experience, but the young full-back was retained by Critchley for Sunday’s game and repaid his manager’s faith. Against an experienced Everton side, containing the likes of Jonjoe Kenny, Kieran Dowell and Tyias Browning, Hoever’s performance at right wing-back stood out a mile. Liverpool ran out deserved 1-0 winners thanks to Rafael Camacho’s first-half goal.
"He tired towards the end, which was understandable considering he played in the week as well," Critchley said.
"But I thought his calmness and assurance, his decision-making, his intelligence without the ball, it was terrific. Playing against a good player, I was very impressed with him indeed."
Hoever, a Dutch youth international recruited from Ajax in the summer, has already become a key figure for Barry Lewtas’ Under-18s side, who have won 13 of their 16 games in all competitions this season. Now, he will be hoping to feature in Wednesday’s UEFA Youth League clash away to Paris Saint-Germain, from which Liverpool need just a point to secure their place in the last 16.
Sunday’s game will provide a confidence boost, especially given the shelling against Villarreal. Camacho, playing as a No.9, impressed, while there was the welcome sight of Ben Woodburn back in a red shirt. The Wales international remains on loan at Championship side Sheffield United but was allowed to return to Liverpool to take part in the game
Anyone know anything more about the lad?
@gkmacca
The 16-year-old is looking a real prospect and is catching the eye in the same way a fellow Dutchman is at Anfield
Virgil van Dijk is not the only Dutch defender making a big impression at Liverpool, it seems.
While the £75 million man continues to establish himself among the world’s elite, at the Reds’ Academy they’re already starting to talk about one of his countrymen.
Ki-Jana Hoever is just 16 years old, but already he’s making inroads with Liverpool’s Under-23 side. On Sunday, he made his first Premier League 2 appearance, helping Neil Critchley’s team to an eye-catching win over league leaders Everton at Goodison Park.
It was some performance from the teenager; assured, calm, classy in possession and solid in defence. Critchley, not a man prone to exaggeration, was suitably impressed.
"Unbelievable," was his assessment. "Sixteen years old? Just... wow, really!"
Hoever had played for the Under-23s last Wednesday, as a team full of Under-18 players were hammered 7-0 at home to Villarreal in the Premier League International Cup.
A chastening experience, but the young full-back was retained by Critchley for Sunday’s game and repaid his manager’s faith. Against an experienced Everton side, containing the likes of Jonjoe Kenny, Kieran Dowell and Tyias Browning, Hoever’s performance at right wing-back stood out a mile. Liverpool ran out deserved 1-0 winners thanks to Rafael Camacho’s first-half goal.
"He tired towards the end, which was understandable considering he played in the week as well," Critchley said.
"But I thought his calmness and assurance, his decision-making, his intelligence without the ball, it was terrific. Playing against a good player, I was very impressed with him indeed."
Hoever, a Dutch youth international recruited from Ajax in the summer, has already become a key figure for Barry Lewtas’ Under-18s side, who have won 13 of their 16 games in all competitions this season. Now, he will be hoping to feature in Wednesday’s UEFA Youth League clash away to Paris Saint-Germain, from which Liverpool need just a point to secure their place in the last 16.
Sunday’s game will provide a confidence boost, especially given the shelling against Villarreal. Camacho, playing as a No.9, impressed, while there was the welcome sight of Ben Woodburn back in a red shirt. The Wales international remains on loan at Championship side Sheffield United but was allowed to return to Liverpool to take part in the game
Anyone know anything more about the lad?
@gkmacca
