22 July 2023 , 13:26
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Preston North End have secured the signing of Liverpool striker Layton Stewart – who had drawn comparisons to Fernando Torres in the Reds academy.
Stewart, who joined Liverpool at the age of seven, scored 11 goals in 17 Premier League 2 matches in the 2022-23 season. He made his first debut last November when he started for Jurgen Klopp’s side in a win against Derby in the third round of the EFL Cup at Anfield.
The 20-year-old had been involved in the Reds' first-team squad for the first time three years prior when he was named on the bench for an EFL Cup tie at Aston Villa. However, he suffered an anterior cruciate injury to his knee not long after signing his first professional contract with the club.
Stewart had long been thought of as one of Liverpool’s most exciting academy products, with The Athletic detailing how he had compared to former club legendary strikers Torres and Michael Owen in his style of play.
That he was included in the Reds squad as a 17-year-old showed his mass potential while his determination to recover from a serious knee injury to start for his boyhood club was another impressive accomplishment to hint at a long career at the top level.
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He is now dropping down to the Championship to join Preston and he will undoubtedly be a more rounded player after his training with Liverpool’s senior squad. He outlined how much encouragement he was given by Roberto Firmino.
Stewart made his Liverpool senior debut against Derby last season (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Have Your Say! How would you rate Liverpool’s transfer window so far? Tell us what you think here.
The Brazilian left Anfield this summer at the end of his contract after a decorated eight-year spell and it appears that Stewart was one of his favourites in the club’s academy. The two even stayed in touch and messaged each other outside of training.
“I speak to Bobby a lot, actually,” Stewart said, in quotes carried by Goal earlier this year. “I absolutely love him. He messages me on Instagram after a game saying ‘well done’ and things like that, which means a lot to a young player. I had a photo shoot recently and he was messaging after it.
“We got on well over in Dubai. We were doing a lot of pressing drills, and he’s the king of it really, isn’t he, so I was always asking him for little tips and watching how he did it.
Stewart (second from right) was involved in Liverpool's first-team training (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)“He’s changed the way a Liverpool No.9 plays, and that’s something every young striker has to be aware of now. It’s not just about the glory, scoring goals, you have to do the other side of the game as well. He’s been the best in the business at it for years.”
Stewart has represented England at under-18 level and will be hopeful of enjoying a run of senior football at Deepdale.