Liverpool are likely to reassess the next step for Welsh international and under 23s free-scoring forward Harry Wilson as the January transfer window approaches.

Wilson, who captained the U23s last season, has become a key figure for Neil Critchley’s side but is yet to make the jump to the first team in the way that players such as Trent-Alexander Arnold and Ben Woodburn have.

Plenty has been made of the raw talent he has displayed on numerous occasions, and with opportunities of first-team football seemingly hard to come by, a loan move to a Football League club could be the best route to take his game to the next level.

The Welsh forward netted 28 times last campaign and guided the Reds to a third-place finish in the league.

And this season, Wilson has maintained his goalscoring prowess by notching 11 goals in 16 outings.

He was unable to add to his ever-increasing tally on Sunday, though, as Critchley’s side were o n the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller against Stoke City, at Chester City’s Swansway Chester Stadium.

Wilson won the Reds their second penalty of the contest in the dying embers of the match, with Danny Ings scoring. Wilson had missed the preceding spot kick though Ings was on hand to convert the rebound.

Show Player

Speaking after the game, Critchley was open to the prospect of the 20-year-old departing in January in order to further his development.

(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“I think the situation will be reviewed in the next couple of weeks when the transfer window opens in January.”

However, the Liverpool manager admitted that there are certain hurdles that stand in the way of Wilson making a move.

“Clubs have got to want him first and foremost, before he decides or we decide if it’s right for him to go on loan. And then there’s circumstances around the first team, in terms of injuries etc and the manager (Jurgen Klopp) has to have his say in that as well.

“So there are a lot of variables, but I’m sure in the next few weeks it will become a lot clearer.”

Liverpool’s defeat on Sunday now means they fall to second place in Group G of their Premier League Cup group, with the Potters leapfrogging them.

(Image: Photo by James Maloney)

“I’m not sure what to make of that game really, because when you score three goals you’d expect to win the game.

“I didn’t think we started very well, I then thought we were on top, but they then scored from a really poor goal that we gave them; it was from our throw in and they scored.

“We showed some spirit in the second half to get back to 3-2 but then the fourth goal was a killer.

“There was good spirit again to get it back to 4-3, we hit the post and had a chance near the death, but it was too little too late.

“We didn’t have some luck in front of goal but we didn’t defend our goal well enough, and we’ve paid the price for that unfortunately.

The Reds are next in action on Sunday December 10 at 1pm away at Sunderland. A win could potentially see Critchley’s men extend their lead at the top of the Premier League 2 table to nine points.