Tino Livramento has been a standout performer for Southampton this season

 

Tino Livramento has been a standout performer for Southampton this season

As someone who loves his flying full-backs, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could be casting some admiring glances Southampton's way on Saturday.

In Tino Livramento, the Saints possess one of the most exciting teenagers in the Premier League, outperforming some of the top flight's best defenders.

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The 19-year-old is a threat going forward but equally effective in defence and has developed into a key player for Ralph Hasenhuttl's side, having missed just four minutes of Premier League action this season.

It has vindicated the youngster's potentially career-defining decision this summer to turn his back on current Premier League leaders Chelsea to pursue first-team football, despite just being named Academy Player of the Year at the Blues.

Excelling in attack and defence from a young age

Tino Livramento

Livramento had been at Chelsea for more than a decade before deciding to join Southampton

Winning such an award is not to be taken lightly given the vast wealth of talent to have come through Chelsea's youth system over the years - previous winners have included Mason Mount, Reece James and Conor Gallagher, who are all now starring in the Premier League and playing for England.

While Livramento is firmly impressing as an attack-minded full-back he could feasibly have come through and excelled in any position.

As a boy he started out as a centre-back at his local Sunday League side Roundshaw but was later deployed as a forward and finished a season as the club's top scorer.

"I remember my coach back then saying how I was an excellent finisher and had the pace that a winger needed," said Livramento, who grew up idolising Cristiano Ronaldo because of his Portuguese roots from his father's side.

"This gave me great confidence as a young boy and helped me continue to play such positive football."

With a love of defending but a desire to attack, full-back seemed a natural fit for Livramento and it was not long before his ability at both ends of the pitch caught the eye of Chelsea's scouts as he moved to the Blues' academy in 2009.