Who is James Norris? The ENERGETIC Liverpool left-back in line to start vs Southampton

Even before Andy Robertson didn’t realise Harry Wilson was behind him and proceeded to boot the Fulham winger in the shins, denying Fulham a goalscoring opportunity and earning himself a red card in the process, Liverpool had a left-back problem.

Robertson’s play over the course of the season has been inconsistent, ranging from game-changingly poor to as-good-as-ever.

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Newly-crowned Footballer of the Year WANTS Liverpool move

As such, Kostas Tsimikas has shared starting time with the Scottish captain at the position. He was growing into the role before an ankle injury last month set him back.

Robertson’s red card leaves Liverpool without a natural first-team left-back for this week’s League Cup quarter-final against Southampton.

Step forward, James Norris.

James Norris, Liverpool's only left-back

The next natural backup the Reds have in the position is under-21s starter James Norris.

Norris was brought back to senior squad attention after he made the bench for Liverpool’s recent trip to Girona in the Champions League, spurred on by a raft of injuries and suspensions.

The 21-year old has spent the rest of the season holding down the position for the youth team, playing every minute in the Premier League 2 - that is, other than yesterday’s 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace, indicating first-team action is imminent.

He got a goal and an assist on the opening day 3-1 win over Manchester City, and also bagged the equaliser in the under-21’s eventual penalty shoot-out loss to Harrogate Town in the EFL Trophy.

But this wouldn’t be Norris’s first taste of senior team action.

He made his debut aged just 17, a cameo in a 5-0 loss to Aston Villa in the 2019/20 League Cup quarter final when Liverpool’s senior players were off winning the Club World Cup.

Norris was also given a last-minute appearance in an 4-1 FA Cup third round victory over Shrewsbury Town in 2021/22.

He then spent last season on loan at Tranmere Rovers, in a rather up-and-down campaign that saw manager Ian Dawes sacked just one month into the season.

If Norris is to feature against Southampton, then, it would be his first professional start for the Reds. Given the unpredictability of the future at the position right now, he has a chance to establish himself as a Conor Bradley-esque figure, a reliable first-team option when Arne Slot needs him the most.

READ MORE: Bajcetic's ICE COLD post after Pep Lijnders Red Bull Salzburg sacking