Liverpool's next Steven Gerrard announces himself, what an assist

What an assist that was. Liverpool's next Steven Gerrard continues to go from strength to strength.

Yes, the 'next Steven Gerrard' label is overdone when it comes to talking about Luca Eden. The teenager is taking Liverpool's youth system by storm, performing wonders every time we see him.

It's enough that Eden has been promoted full-on into the Under 19s now. He's a UEFA Youth League regular and the youngest goalscorer Liverpool have ever had in the competition at just 15.

But it's important to take note of what 'next Gerrard' actually means. No one believes Eden is going to have anywhere near the impact on the first team that Gerrard had, nor is there any expectation for him to do so.

This club is well over 125 years old and Gerrard still looks like a one-of-a-kind player. Eden will be his own player and carve his own path in the game and it's virtually impossible to know exactly how good he'll go on to be.

What we mean is that stylistically Eden is the closest we've seen to Gerrard. And he keeps proving that point.

Luca Eden keeps doing it

It wasn't a goal for Eden on Wednesday but we did see an assist. And what an assist.

The teenager burst through midfield with the ball, picking up on some uncertainty from three separate players around him. That's the kind of moment that brings Gerrard comparisons, in temperament as much as anything.

Eden took the game by the scruff of its neck, even just for a moment. He left two opponents in his dust before playing a perfect through-ball for Will Wright to score his hattrick goal.

It was fantastic all-around. Wright deserves the most plaudits from this match, unquestionably, given he scored three ans assisted another.

Eden, though, must not fall under the radar. He's doing things that take you far in the game, demonstrating instinct and drive that establish you in teams. He also has a supreme confidence despite being so young. Again, that takes you far.

So while expectation can't enter the equation, it's impossible not to be excited by Eden. Every time he's out there, he looks more like a real player and it does feel like the sky's the limit here.