Liverpool might just have a future version of Erling Haaland on their hands and if he keeps going he will be in the first-team very soon.
The football world first took notice of Manchester City’s prolific striker when he scored nine goals in a single game at the U20 World Cup.
From that moment, it was clear a generational talent had arrived. Since then, the Norwegian has developed into one of the most feared forwards in world football.
Haaland is a phenomenon. At times, he barely seems human, more like a goal-scoring machine built with a single purpose. The way he overwhelms defenders with sheer intensity is astonishing.
But his game isn’t just about physical dominance. Beyond his strength and speed lies a clinical edge that sets him apart. His finishing is on another level entirely.
Left foot, right foot, headers, long-range efforts, he scores with calm precision in every situation. His movement inside the box is equally elite, always finding the right space to convert even the smallest chance.
Put simply, he’s the most complete striker in the modern game.
According to Anfield Watch, Liverpool once had the opportunity to sign him during his early days in Norway, when he was offered to several clubs before Molde gave him his breakthrough.
Now, however, the Reds’ academy could be nurturing a player in a similar mould, and if his development continues at this pace, a first-team breakthrough may not be far away.
Harrison O'Brien is attracting a lot of attention lately for Liverpool's academy. He scored a hat-trick in the U15 Merseyside Cup against Ferencvaros earlier this season and he just scored another hat-trick in the final of the U15 Premier League Cup to help Liverpool's U15 side win the tournament.
If that wasn't enough, he's also scored a double hat-trick this season.
He netted six goals in Liverpool's U15 side's 7-1 victory over Stoke City.
So, the kid is talented and he loves to score goals – just like Haaland. What's impressive that O'Brien's goals are not all the same. He's got a nice range, capable of scoring from long distance and from short distances. He's quick, powerful and deadly in front of goal in and around the box.
On top of that he is an industrious forward who can also play on the wing and works really hard.
The inner circles of the club are starting to get excited by O'Brien's potential.
That is according to the Daily Mail which claims that one expert source connected to Liverpool’s academy said the following about the young forward:
‘He is scary good, like a young Erling Haaland’
With the long-hair and the ability to score goals for fun, it's easy to see where those comparisons come from.
He's only 15-years-old but he's been playing a few age-groups above his own and he has netted a whopping 50-goals already this season at academy level.
In total as per The Talent Hunter on Instagram, O’Brien has 74 goal contributions this season, including 51 goals and 23 assists.
But that was a few months ago now, he's already scored a few more since then.
The dynamic forward has already been spending a lot of time with the club's U16 team and he could follow in the path of Luca Eden by making his U18 debut very soon – maybe even before the season ends but definitely next season.
From the U18s, it's only a short path to the first-team and if he scores this many goals there too, it won't be long until O'Brien is working alongside Arne Slot's team – especially considering the lack of depth in those attacking positions at the club.
Liverpool haven't had much luck with producing academy strikers in recent years. Many have come but so far many have failed to make their mark.
The likes of Adam Morgan, Rhian Brewster, Jerome Sinclair and Krisztian Nemeth were all prolific at youth level but then never quite broke onto the scene in the first-team.
Jayden Danns will be hoping to break that trend and O'Brien is definitely a name worth keeping a close eye on, too.
He's another big talent coming through the ranks at the academy, which is now looking very strong.
Liverpool's future is definitely in safe hands. And soon they may have the next Haaland joining the first-team – if he keeps his performances up.
