Our chief Liverpool FC writer Ian Doyle on Kaide Gordon, the Liverpool record-breaker still waiting to build on his breakthrough Anfield moment four years on
Kaide Gordon celebrates his one and only goal of his Liverpool career so far, which came four years ago today, in an FA Cup clash at home to Shrewsbury Town(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
If, to paraphrase an oft-used quote, a week is a long time in football, then four years is an absolute eternity. Just ask Kaide Gordon.
It was on this day in 2022 the Liverpool winger announced himself to the wider world with a brilliantly-taken first senior goal to help the Reds earn a 4-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town in their FA Cup third-round clash at Anfield.
Gordon had already made his debut earlier in the season before he had even celebrated his 17th birthday when starting the League Cup triumph at Norwich City, a game in which Conor Bradley also made his first-team bow.
But while Bradley has gone on to become an integral part of the Liverpool squad under first Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot, Gordon finds himself in an all-too-familiar position on the sidelines.
A meniscus injury sustained during training last month has scuppered plans of a potential loan move during the January transfer window and threatened the winger’s participation again this season.
“So disappointed to say I have torn my meniscus and will be out for some time,” posted Gordon on social media. “Worst news I could have got and this one will hurt for a while but I will be back.”
That it came at a time when Gordon was in a period of good form was typical of the ill fortune that has blighted him ever since that memorable FA Cup strike, with the winger still Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the competition.
Gordon had registered two goals and three assists in his last four Premier League 2 games, which included creating strikes for Keyrol Figueroa and Calvin Ramsay in the 4-1 victory over Everton in October.
“He was obviously looking to go out on loan for his next step in his career,” said under-21 boss Rob Page after the derby triumph. “All he can do is maintain his level of performance like that, and the rest will take care of itself, whether it is here or elsewhere.
“He has just got to make sure that he brings that level to every game and come January, if he is continuing to play like that, there will be people at the door to take him, no doubt.
“We’re continuing to work every day with him and there is still room for improvement, but when he gives performances like that, he has got to make people stand up and take note.”
Gordon did continue, netting twice in the 2-2 EFL Trophy draw at League Two side Chesterfield in November – also scoring from both his spot-kicks during the marathon shoot-out which Liverpool eventually won 11-10 – and maintained that level in a series of winter friendlies before his injury.
Four years ago, though, Gordon was in a position to benefit from Mohamed Salah’s departure on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.
He made his Premier League bow from the bench at home to Brentford and then, four days later, became the youngest-ever player to start a major semi-final for Liverpool when lining up in the 2-0 League Cup win over Arsenal that secured a berth at Wembley.
But while the Reds went on to claim their second domestic cup double by beating Chelsea on penalties in both the League Cup and FA Cup finals, Gordon was missing having had his campaign ended early by a pelvic injury related to his growth that ultimately kept him out for 18 months.
Gordon had been signed from Derby County in February 2021 in a deal that could yet cost Liverpool £3million, having already been given his senior bow at the Midlands side by then boss Wayne Rooney.
“I brought Kaide up with the first-team initially to train with us for a week to see how he reacted to it, and he was one of the best trainers,” said the former Everton and Manchester United man at the time.
“I kept him with us for a couple of weeks and he’s been training at the same level, if not to a better level to a lot of the other first-team players. Kaide is a fantastic player and he has got a lot of potential.”
On Gordon’s return from long-term injury, the 2023/24 campaign became one of rediscovering full fitness and sharpness, resulting in a strong finish to the season in which he had clearly outgrown the U21s, most notably when scoring during a brilliant individual display in the 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in April 2024.
“He promised me a goal tonight,” said then Liverpool U21s head coach Barry Lewtas that evening. “He has been a real threat for us and tonight was probably where he put it all together, I thought his work-rate was great and how he controlled the middle of the pitch, his ability to carry the ball, good passes, good decisions, good finish.
“I thought tonight was his best performance for us, by far. He looked like a real match-winner.”
Indeed, after then featuring in pre-season under new boss Slot, Gordon made the next step in his career with a season-long loan move to Championship side Norwich City. However, it was not a successful period and after only one start and nine substitute appearances, the youngster was recalled last January.
His second loan spell, though, was even less productive, with just five outings from the bench for Portsmouth.
The nature of young careers means any extended time on the sidelines runs the risk of players being out of sight and out of mind.
And a gaggle of similar wide players have staked their claims during Gordon’s time away from the limelight, Ben Doak shooting to prominence after being brought from Celtic before moving to Bournemouth last summer, while both Trent Kone-Doherty and Kieran Morrison have in the last 12 months made their senior breakthroughs.
Numerous, too, are the tales of youngsters who have burned brightly at the start of their Liverpool careers only, for whatever reason, that flame to be quickly extinguished.
While there was surprise Gordon was unable to attract a suitable loan offer at the start of this season, it did allow him to make his first senior Liverpool appearance in 20 months when coming on for the final quarter of the League Cup defeat to Crystal Palace in October.
Now, though, Gordon is having to once again rebuild a career that was only just getting started that afternoon four years ago.
“He is what you see a lot with these kind of wingers – they can outplay, they can combine – but he has a goal in him,” said then Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders.
“And he has this natural ability to be in the box between the goalposts to score, even when the cross comes from the opposite side, for example. Not many talents have that.”
Having only turned 21 in October, time remains very much on the side of Gordon. And if ever a player requires a change of fortune, it’s the Liverpool record-breaker.
