Liverpool Pathway Points to Joshua Abe as Possible Salah Successor
Academy rise places Joshua Abe on Liverpool radar
Liverpool’s academy has long been designed to serve a clear purpose: support the first team under Arne Slot while reducing dependence on inflated transfer markets. That strategy may now be delivering its latest prospect in Joshua Abe, a 15-year-old winger who is already drawing comparisons with Mohamed Salah.
According to the original source from Anfield Watch, which reported on Abe’s emergence, “Liverpool have found Mo Salah’s heir and he is extremely special.” While that description reflects fan-site enthusiasm rather than club confirmation, sources close to academy operations acknowledge the teenager has been closely monitored after an impressive run with Liverpool’s youth sides and England youth teams.
Abe has been with Liverpool since his earliest academy years. Coaches have been careful with his development, mindful of his age but encouraged by his technical qualities. He operates predominantly on the right flank, cutting inside onto his left foot, a movement pattern that inevitably invites comparison with Salah’s trademark attacking runs.
Training exposure hints at Slot planning
Training sessions often reveal a club’s internal thinking, and Abe has already had exposure to senior work. As noted in the Anfield Watch report, “Recently, the 15-year-old was training with the first-team in back-to-back weeks.” That step does not guarantee promotion, but Liverpool’s staff do not invite youth players lightly.
Slot has shown a willingness to integrate young players when they demonstrate tactical discipline and physical readiness. In recent matches against sides like Sunderland and Burnley this season, the manager’s use of academy graduates in domestic cups illustrated that pathway remains open.
Liverpool will not rush Abe. But internal conversations suggest the club believes his development trajectory is unusual. Scouts have highlighted his finishing, composure in tight areas, and awareness of pressing triggers — all critical traits in Slot’s structure.
Statistical impact mirrors early Salah traits
Abe’s numbers in the Under-18 side offer context. He scored a hat-trick against Derby County Under-18s and has eight goals and three assists in ten appearances, averaging a goal involvement every 58 minutes. Those metrics are impressive for any youth player, particularly one competing above his age group.
Anfield Watch described him as “terrifying when he cuts into his left foot from the right.” Liverpool analysts agree that his shot selection and timing resemble patterns seen in Salah’s early career at Basel and Roma, though comparisons must remain cautious.
Salah himself remains a key figure at Anfield. As the same source noted, “Salah has just 18 months left on his contract and he’s unlikely to extend beyond those terms.” Contract negotiations remain ongoing, and Liverpool would prefer clarity well before the summer window.
Even if Salah stays beyond his current deal, the club must plan succession. Abe’s development gives Liverpool a potential internal option, something FSG ownership has consistently prioritised.
Succession planning beyond headline comparisons
Liverpool are unlikely to label any teenager as a direct replacement for Salah. The Egyptian’s record — more than a decade of elite output across Serie A and the Premier League — is exceptional. But the club’s recruitment model under Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes emphasises continuity.
Abe’s next steps will be carefully staged. Under-21 matches, possible FA Youth Cup exposure, and further training with the senior squad are expected. The club will monitor his physical growth and decision-making before considering first-team minutes.
For Liverpool supporters, the excitement around Joshua Abe reflects a wider theme. Academy production remains central to the club’s identity, from Trent Alexander-Arnold to recent prospects emerging during Slot’s tenure. Abe may or may not reach Salah’s level, but Liverpool’s planning suggests they are preparing for that eventual transition.
In a squad balancing experienced leaders with young talent, Abe represents possibility rather than certainty. Yet within Kirkby’s training pitches, there is quiet recognition that another winger with rare instincts could soon be knocking on the door.