Liverpool Legend Pinpoints the New Steven Gerrard

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has drawn comparisons between 16-year-old Jordan Rossiter and club captain Steven Gerrard.

The teenage midfielder was handed a place on the substitute's bench for Liverpool's recent trip to Chelsea and has already been earmarked as a future star at Anfield having made tremendous leaps in the club's youth ranks.

Having made his debut for the club's Under-18's at the age of 15 before going onto captain the side, the early comparisons with Gerrard come as no surprise and Fowler believes the midfielder is the most spectacular graduate from an academy awash with talent.

"I think it is very important for teams to bring through the young lads from the academies at a time when millions are being spent on buying players," Fowler told Yahoo News. "Liverpool's bench this season has often seen players coming from the academy.

"Brad Smith and Cameron Brannagan have featured, and one young player who is a stand player for me is Jordan Rossiter. He reminds me of a young Steven Gerrard.

"I have been lucky enough to do some mentoring and coaching at the academy, and I believe there are some exceptional players. In the coming years, there will be more certainly more players coming into the first team squad. "

Having recently been fast tracked into Liverpool's Under-21 ranks, Rossiter's stock amongst the club's management is growing all the time. Before handing Brad Smith his first team debut against Chelsea, Rodgers spoke of the merits of utilising young players in the first team squad, as he has previously done with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom, Jon Flanagan and Jordon Ibe.

"We have young Jordan Rossiter training with us. He is an outstanding young talent. Brad Smith, a left back who I think is another outstanding young player has been here too," Rodgers said at the end of last year.

"The one thing you will get with the kids is they will run through a brick wall for you so it's something I will closely at and maybe in the second half of the season they will get their chance."