For a club renowned for having a strong youth policy, it is hard to escape the feeling that Arsenal dropped the ball somewhat when it comes to Ovie Ejaria.
On Tuesday night the Londoner made his senior Anfield debut, the teenager an eye-catching presence in midfield as Liverpool beat Tottenham to reach the League Cup quarter finals.
Ejaria does not turn 19 until next month, but the midfielder’s progress on Merseyside over the past two years has been remarkable. Even more so when you consider he had rocked up at Liverpool having been deemed not good enough by Arsenal.
Southwark-born, Ejaria had been with the Gunners from the age of seven, but at 16 was let go. Already, it looks a misjudgement.
“It was tough,” the England U20 man says. “And it came as a bit of a shock, to be honest.
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur. Action from Football League Cup Round of 16 at Anfield. Pictured: Ovie Ejaria is congratulated by Jurgen Klopp at the final whistle. Photo by Ian Cooper.
“But I was fortunate enough to have offers from a number of clubs at different levels, some others in the London area and some up north too.
“I chose Liverpool and I’m pleased that I did.”
Liverpool, too, are pretty pleased. Ejaria was already well known to Michael Beale, the club’s U23 coach, and his development since his move north has been clear.
Having impressed in pre-season, he made his debut as a substitute at Derby last month before a 90-minute outing against Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama and co this week. More first team outings will follow, that’s for certain.
“It’s happened so quickly,” Ejaria reflects. “Twelve months ago I wouldn’t have thought that this would have taken place, but of course I’m very happy that it has.
“Things have changed in a short space of time for me but it’s been really good.
Ovie Ejaria of Liverpool during the Premier League 2 match between Liverpool and Sunderland on September 25, 2016 in Birkenhead, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“It was quite hard at first. I was only 16 and away from home but as time went on I became more used to it.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learnt since coming to Liverpool is becoming more independent. After a while everything became more familiar and I started to enjoy myself more so that helped a lot.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here at Liverpool so far and I hope I will have many more good times with the club in the future.”
Ejaria, speaking in Liverpool’s official matchday programme, describes himself as an attack-minded midfielder – “a No.8 or a No.10,” as he puts it. He intends to add goals to his game, but is ready to work hard to become the complete player.
“I have always played in the middle of the pitch,” he says. “Sometimes when I’ve been playing with the U23s this season I’ve been used out wide on the left, but I don’t find that too hard because I’m used to playing in a No.10 position. So I can come inside on occasions and play as a second No.10.
“But I would certainly describe myself more as an attacking midfielder, a No.8 or a No.10.
Ovie Ejaria of Liverpool scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League 2 game between Liverpool and Leicester City at Prenton Park on September 11, 2016 in Birkenhead (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“(Goalscoring) is certainly something that I’ve tried to work on over the past two years or so, and as those two years have gone on it’s becoming better. I’ve been scoring more goals so hopefully I can keep that going.
“The coaching staff have always worked hard to try and help me. After training I will do some extra work on my weaker points and it’s certainly benefited me. I’ve come on a lot in the last year and I would say it’s down to a bit of extra confidence and the fact that I’ve also worked hard.
“My aim is to keep playing well, trying to score more goals as well as creating chances and getting my assists statistics up as well. And of course generally trying to do whatever I can to help the team. Those are my main targets.”
On Tuesday night the Londoner made his senior Anfield debut, the teenager an eye-catching presence in midfield as Liverpool beat Tottenham to reach the League Cup quarter finals.
Ejaria does not turn 19 until next month, but the midfielder’s progress on Merseyside over the past two years has been remarkable. Even more so when you consider he had rocked up at Liverpool having been deemed not good enough by Arsenal.
Southwark-born, Ejaria had been with the Gunners from the age of seven, but at 16 was let go. Already, it looks a misjudgement.
“It was tough,” the England U20 man says. “And it came as a bit of a shock, to be honest.
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur. Action from Football League Cup Round of 16 at Anfield. Pictured: Ovie Ejaria is congratulated by Jurgen Klopp at the final whistle. Photo by Ian Cooper.
“But I was fortunate enough to have offers from a number of clubs at different levels, some others in the London area and some up north too.
“I chose Liverpool and I’m pleased that I did.”
Liverpool, too, are pretty pleased. Ejaria was already well known to Michael Beale, the club’s U23 coach, and his development since his move north has been clear.
Having impressed in pre-season, he made his debut as a substitute at Derby last month before a 90-minute outing against Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama and co this week. More first team outings will follow, that’s for certain.
“It’s happened so quickly,” Ejaria reflects. “Twelve months ago I wouldn’t have thought that this would have taken place, but of course I’m very happy that it has.
“Things have changed in a short space of time for me but it’s been really good.
Ovie Ejaria of Liverpool during the Premier League 2 match between Liverpool and Sunderland on September 25, 2016 in Birkenhead, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“It was quite hard at first. I was only 16 and away from home but as time went on I became more used to it.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learnt since coming to Liverpool is becoming more independent. After a while everything became more familiar and I started to enjoy myself more so that helped a lot.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here at Liverpool so far and I hope I will have many more good times with the club in the future.”
Ejaria, speaking in Liverpool’s official matchday programme, describes himself as an attack-minded midfielder – “a No.8 or a No.10,” as he puts it. He intends to add goals to his game, but is ready to work hard to become the complete player.
“I have always played in the middle of the pitch,” he says. “Sometimes when I’ve been playing with the U23s this season I’ve been used out wide on the left, but I don’t find that too hard because I’m used to playing in a No.10 position. So I can come inside on occasions and play as a second No.10.
“But I would certainly describe myself more as an attacking midfielder, a No.8 or a No.10.
Ovie Ejaria of Liverpool scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League 2 game between Liverpool and Leicester City at Prenton Park on September 11, 2016 in Birkenhead (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“(Goalscoring) is certainly something that I’ve tried to work on over the past two years or so, and as those two years have gone on it’s becoming better. I’ve been scoring more goals so hopefully I can keep that going.
“The coaching staff have always worked hard to try and help me. After training I will do some extra work on my weaker points and it’s certainly benefited me. I’ve come on a lot in the last year and I would say it’s down to a bit of extra confidence and the fact that I’ve also worked hard.
“My aim is to keep playing well, trying to score more goals as well as creating chances and getting my assists statistics up as well. And of course generally trying to do whatever I can to help the team. Those are my main targets.”
Last edited:
