Without doubt the main focus of media and supporters over the last season has been centred around the infighting at boardroom level and the amazing debut of Fernando Torres. Here's a ray of optimism for Reds everywhere.
'Liverpool's reserve team now boasts a number of potential stars who are just waiting to take the game by storm'
The long season is nearly at an end and for we Liverpool fans it will mostly be remembered for the off-field issue currently being played out in front of the world's media.
Add to that the continuing newspaper reports linking us with average performers like Philip Degen, Kenwyne Jones and Maik Taylor and it is very easy to feel apprehensive about the future. Well i'm here to tell you that it ain't all that bad!
Over the last three years Rafael Benitez has been steadily recruiting a number of young players from around the globe, in many ways adopting the approach Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Before Rafa was appointed as the Reds manager, the last young player to successfully make the grade was Steven Gerrard.
Sure we had Stephen Warnock and Neil Mellor but i'm sure most fans would agree that both had limitations and were not up to required standard for team with title ambitions. Since the arrival of Benitez we have seen a near complete overhaul within the entire youth team set-up.
Gary Ablett was brought in last year to concentrate on nuturing and educating these young stars. Move forward three years and the fruits of all the early work are now starting to pay massive dividends for the Reds. Two FA youth Cups and the recent Premier League North Reserve Championship is sure proof that there is something special going on at Melwood.
Liverpool's reserve team now boasts a number of potential stars who are just waiting to take the game by storm. Already this season reserve team regulars Damien Plessis and Emiliano Insua, Jack Hobbs and Nabil El Zhar have experienced first team debuts.
Undoubtedly the most eye-catching performer in this season's reserve campaign has been the young Hungarian Striker Kristian Nemeth who promises a massive future. Trust me, this lad is gonna be class! He has that same approach i saw in Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen as 16-year-olds.
The move of the reserve fixtures to Warringon Wolves' Haliwell Jones stadium has helped break attendance records and resulted in many more Liverpool fans taking notice of the reserve team games, something which was a rare thing before the Benitez era.
Liverpool also have two massively exiting talents in Dani Pachecho and Gerardo Bruna. Both players were taken from the Barcelona and Real Madrid academies in much the same way as Cesc Fabregas and Gerald Pique were picked up by Arsenal and Manchestger United, although both are perhaps not yet physically ready for the Premier League.
Bruna was recently voted in at No. 10 in the much-coveted Next Wonderkids awards and has been likened to Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. Pachecho is a player who appears to dribble with the ball literally glued to his foot, almost Messi-like, and shows amazing calmness when playing killer balls or finishing chances.
Having watched numerous reserve games this season I firmly believe that this current crop of Anfield youngsters could well prove to be the finest group of academy players to come through top flight set-ups since the famous Man United team of the early 90s with David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and the Neville brothers.
I would strongly recommend any Liverpool fan to tune in to the Premier League North/South Reserves final tonight against Aston Villa at Anfield and watch some of the stars of the future. Its live on LFC TV.
We need to remember that the Future is very bright indeed.
YNWA.
Have you spotted any young world-beaters at your club? Post your comments below.