Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham gave youth a chance in the EFL Cup - but what are the chances of Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Marko Grujic and Cameron Carter-Vickers making the grade?

  • The League Cup has kick-started several top players' careers
  • Big clubs gave young players a chance on Tuesday night
  • Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs all saw big prospects impress in the EFL Cup
  • But what are their first-team chances? Sportsmail assesses them all 

The League cup has a long history of showcasing the best emerging talent at top clubs.

David Beckham, Cesc Fabregas and John Terry are among the global superstars who made their first club appearances in the competition, and it remains a stage for youngsters to demonstrate they are ready for first-team football.

On Tuesday night Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham all gave chances to some of their new generation of young stars. Sportsmail takes a look at their chances of making it to the top... 

Arsenal gave a chance to several youth stars including Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Jeff Reine-Adelaide in their EFL Cup win over Reading on Tuesday night

Arsenal gave a chance to several youth stars including Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Jeff Reine-Adelaide in their EFL Cup win over Reading on Tuesday night

ARSENAL 


Emiliano Martinez

Position: Goalkeeper Age: 24 Nationality: Argentinian First team chance: 5/10

The oldest of the 'youngsters' on show on Tuesday, Martinez is still relatively youthful for a goalkeeper, and the big shot-stopper is still rated as a player with a big future by Arsenal.

He has been at Arsenal since 2010, and has even featured in the Champions League, before spending time on loan in the Championship at Wolves last season. 

He's not likely to replace Petr Cech any time soon, but there's no reason why he couldn't remain at Arsenal as a No 2 for years to come if he continues to develop. 

Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been tipped as a top prospect by Arsenal

Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been tipped as a top prospect by Arsenal

Rob Holding

Position: Centre back Age: 21 Nationality: English First team chance: 8/10

Signed from Bolton this summer as one for the future, Holding was handed his Premier League debut at the start of the season thanks to an injury crisis.

He impressed, despite the team struggling, and looked like a top class defender in the making. The return of Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel, and the signing of Shkodran Mustafi, have seen him fall down the pecking order, but he could, and should, become a first-team regular at the Emirates in years to come. 

Rob Holding, signed from Bolton this summer, has already impressed in the first team

Rob Holding, signed from Bolton this summer, has already impressed in the first team

Jeff Reine-Adelaide

Position: Midfield Age: 18 Nationality: French First team chance: 8/10

Signed from Lens a little over a year ago, Reine-Adelaide - or Jeff as he is affectionately known by Arsenal fans - immediately caught the eye in pre-season.

Graceful and skillful, the French teenager is brilliant to watch, even if he has not yet convinced Arsene Wenger that he deserves a sustained first-team chance.

However, regular appearances in the matchday squad for the first team suggest his manager sees him as almost there. 

Graceful midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide has looked good when given a first-team chance

Graceful midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide has looked good when given a first-team chance

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Position: Winger/full-back Age: 19 Nationality: English First team chance: 5/10

Earmarked early on as a terrific talent, Maitland-Niles made his first-team debut in 2014, at the age of just  17, in the Champions League.

The skillful right winger has stalled somewhat since then however, enduring a difficult spell on loan at Ipswich last season, where he played 30 league games but found himself out of Mick McCarthy's first-team plans after his mother and agent left an angry voicemail message on the manager's phone.

Now back at Arsenal he has spent some time playing at right back, but was back in his more usual position against Reading. Was on the bench against Middlesbrough last weekend. 

Ainsley Maitland-Niles struggled on loan at Ipswich, but has been good since returning

Ainsley Maitland-Niles struggled on loan at Ipswich, but has been goo since returning

Gedion Zelalem

Position: Midfield Age: 19 Nationality: American First team chance: 6/10

When he was included in Arsenal's pre-season tour squad in 2013, Zelalem, then just 16 years old, sparked excitement, with comparisons to Fabregas commonplace.

He sparked a tug of war between the USA and Germany for his international future, opting for the former, before impressing in patches on loan at Rangers last season.

A fantastic passer of the ball with a silky touch, Zelalem's slight stature has seen him struggle at times, and he is still some way from a regular first-team spot. 

American youth international Gedion Zelalem is a talented midfielder, if a little slight

American youth international Gedion Zelalem is a talented midfielder, if a little slight

Chris Willock

Position: Midlfield/Winger Age: 18 Nationality: English First team chance: 7/10

Fans like to claim a player as 'one of our own' but few can be as worthy of that title as Willock, who has been part of the Arsenal set-up since he was just five years old.

When he made his first-team debut in pre-season at 16 Wenger highlighted him as one for the future, and he has continued to develop, making his first competitive appearance in the EFL Cup earlier this season.

The England youth international has a younger brother at Arsenal, as well as an older one at Manchester United. He is still some way from being the finished article, but there is excitement about his chances at the club. 

Chris Willock, who could make the grade, has two brothers also progressing in the game

Chris Willock, who could make the grade, has two brothers also progressing in the game

LIVERPOOL 

Kevin Stewart

Position: Midfield Age: 23 Nationality: English First team chance: 4/10

Not a 'youngster' as such, but Stewart has impressed Jurgen Klopp since he arrived at Anfield.

Signed in 2014 after coming through the ranks at Tottenham, loan spells at Cheltenham, Burton and Swindon did not suggest a career at the top.

But Klopp has shown faith in the defensive midfielder, giving him a first-team debut in last season's FA Cup and, after Tuesday's game, calling him the best tackler in the Liverpool squad. Unlikely ever to be a first-team regular, but could remain around the squad. 

Kevin Stewart was described by manager Jurgen Klopp as the best tackler in Liverpool's squad

Kevin Stewart was described by manager Jurgen Klopp as the best tackler in Liverpool's squad

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Position: Right back Age: 18 Nationality: English First team chance: 7/10

Earmarked by Steven Gerrard as a future star at the age of just 16, Alexander-Arnold made his first-team debut against Spurs.

The former Liverpool captain said the youngster had 'a terrific chance of making it as a top professional', and on Tuesday he gave us a glimpse of why, with a performance that Klopp hailed as 'wonderful'.

Primarily a right back, Alexander-Arnold is a versatile England youth international who can also play in midfield. Breaking into Klopp's first-team plans won't be easy, but he has the potential.  

Trent Alexander-Arnold was earmarked by Steven Gerrard as a star of the future at just 16

Trent Alexander-Arnold was earmarked by Steven Gerrard as a star of the future at just 16

Marko Grujic

Position: Midfield Age: 20 Nationality: Serbian First team chance: 8/10

Coveted by several top clubs, including Chelsea, Grujic was personally convinced by Klopp to join Liverpool earlier this year, in a deal worth over £5m.

Already a full Serbian international, and a key player as Red Star Belgrade won the title last season, Grujic is already close to being first-team ready - in fact, he made his Premier League debut earlier this season.

Tall and rangy, Grujic is an athletic, box to box midfielder who can also pick a pass, and should be making his way into Klopp's plans sooner rather than later. 

Rangy Serbian Marko Grujic joined Liverpool this year after interest from several other clubs

Rangy Serbian Marko Grujic joined Liverpool this year after interest from several other clubs

Ovie Ejaria

Position: Midfield Age: 18 Nationality: English First team chance: 7/10

Poached from Arsenal - where he had been since the age of nine - in 2014, Ejaria was one of the stand-out performers on Tuesday night.

He impressed in pre-season when Klopp handed him a first chance in the first team, and has been named on the bench for Premier League games this season.

Another midfielder with terrific energy, Ejaria was thought to be in line for a full Nigerian cap - following other Premier League teenagers Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho - but opted instead to remain in the England youth set-up.

Ovie Ejaria was one of Liverpool's stand-out players in pre-season, and impressed on Tuesday

Ovie Ejaria was one of Liverpool's stand-out players in pre-season, and impressed on Tuesday

TOTTENHAM 

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Position: Centre back Age: 18 Nationality: American First team chance: 8/10

The son of an NBA star, Carter-Vickers combines the imposing physicality and the technical quality to be a top central defender.

In truth he looked slightly exposed at the top level on Tuesday night, but Mauricio Pochettino has earmarked him as a player who could be ;one of the best defenders in England in the future.'

Well on the way to being a USA full international, Carter-Vickers is already part of Pochettino's first-team plans, and with the Argentine's record for promoting youth, expect to see him starting Premier League games in the near future. 

Son of an NBA player, Cameron Carter-Vickers has been praised by Mauricio Pochettino

Son of an NBA player, Cameron Carter-Vickers has been praised by Mauricio Pochettino

Josh Onomah

Position: Forward Age: 19 Nationality: English First team chance: 7/10

Capped at every England youth level up to and including Under 21, when Onomah broke into the Spurs first-team more than 18 months ago he looked to be a genuine star in the making.

A forward who can play wide or through the middle, Onomah has been used plenty of times by Pochettino, but his development has stalled somewhat in recent months.

He was well below par on Tuesday, and his only goal for Spurs came against Gillingham in the EFL Cup earlier this season, so his chances of dislodging the likes of Harry Kane any time soon look bleak. But he still has the quality to succeed, and under Pochettino chances will continue to come.  

Josh Onomah has played plenty of first-team football, but his development has stalled slightly

Josh Onomah has played plenty of first-team football, but his development has stalled slightly

Harry Winks

Position: Midfield Age: 20 Nationality: English First team chance: 6/10

A talented midfielder who signed a new five-year contract at Spurs last month, Winks has long been identified as one of those academy products who could make the grade at White Hart Lane.

Whether he can be a part of a Pochettino midfield however, with his slight frame, remains to be seen.

He has clearly made an effort to bulk up, and loves a tackle, but with Spurs' strength in depth in central midfield, it's hard to see where he would fit in in the near future. 

Harry Winks recently signed a new long-term deal at Spurs, and is tipped for the top

Harry Winks recently signed a new long-term deal at Spurs, and is tipped for the top

Shayon Harrison

Position: Forward Age: 19 Nationality: English First team chance: 5/10

Perhaps the rawest player on this list, with his seven minutes on Tuesday night representing the least first-team football of any of the stars on show to date.

On that basis it's difficult to assess the young striker, but he is clearly a good finisher, and Pochettino has mentioned him several times as a first-team prospect. 

A striker who is capable of dropping deeper, and creating as well as scoring, Harrison may make the grade one day, but it's probably too early to tell.

Young forward Shayon Harrison has played just seven minutes of first-team football for Spurs

Young forward Shayon Harrison has played just seven minutes of first-team football for Spurs