Ajax starlet Kenneth Taylor has been praised by those in the know in Amsterdam, and the 20-year-old will be put to the test as Alfred Schreuder’s team host Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described Ajax as a team in transition ahead of his own team travelling to the Johan Cruijff ArenA, but a summer of departures has paved the way for the next generation of stars.
Manager Erik ten Hag wasn’t the only key figure to leave Amsterdam over the summer. Lisandro Martinez and Antony joined the Dutchman at Manchester United, while Noussair Mazraoui, Ryan Gravenberch and Sebastien Haller also moved to pastures new.
Ajax’s academy has long been the source of top talents, with the likes of Donny van de Beek and Frenkie de Jong starring in the run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019, and each new round of departures brings a chance for another youngster to stake a claim. The latest starlet to break through is Kenneth Taylor, and the 20-year-old could have a big part to play against Klopp’s Reds.
Taylor only made his senior debut for Ajax in December 2020, replacing Perr Schurrs in a 4-0 Eredivisie win over PEC Zwolle. Two more appearances followed, but his season ended early with a red card against VVV Venlo for a dangerous challenge on Danny Post.