FeatureMeet the Academy: Oliver O'Connor's mindset, versatility and Szoboszlai admiration

O'Connor, an all-action midfielder in the Reds' U18s team, is naturally drawn to the Hungarian starring in the senior side.

"I just like the way he plays and the way he is on the pitch as well," the 17-year-old explains. "I feel like he suits my game the most – it's the way I play.

"The way he impacts the team off the ball, I feel like that's the thing I want to do as well, the way I want to play."

O'Connor isn't shy of contributing in the final third, either, and is known to have the knack of producing the spectacular.

"I enjoy attacking. I'm more of an attacking player who can create chances, wants to score, wants to change the game," O'Connor continues in this conversation with Liverpoolfc.com.

"I feel like I've got a good strike on me, to be fair. I do score the odd goal. When I was younger, I always used to practise shooting. I had a goal in my garden and I just used to shoot at the goal all day."

But his attacking instincts have had to be curbed at various points in the 2025-26 season.

Injuries within the ranks have seen U18s head coach Simon Wiles entrust the Scouser to do a job at right-back – responsibility he has welcomed.

"I feel like the more positions you have, the better, because you've got more chance of being named in a squad because of the fact you can play multiple positions," O'Connor reasons.

"My defending wasn't really the best and I feel like I've learned a lot at right-back in defending. I feel like that's really helped me."

O'Connor has been on the books of his boyhood club since the age of five.

The journey up to this point has been a 'dream come true', and he intends to carry on with the level-headed mindset that's served him well.

O'Connor concludes: "Short term, I just want to keep doing what I'm doing now.

"I feel I've done well because I had an injury that left me out for quite a while and I've never been injured before, so it was tough for me.

"I feel like I reacted well to that, and plus I was playing out of position as well and I feel like I coped with that well as well, which I'm happy about.

"Long term, just keep on progressing in football is the only thing I want to do."

More from our Meet the Academy series...

• 'This is what I worked for' - a first chat with Armin Pecsi
• Prince Cisse's dad Djibril, new position and managerial ambitions
• How an Instagram message led to Kyle Kelly representing St. Kitts and Nevis
• The story of Kornel Misciur's hunt for a Jerzy Dudek selfie
• How Tommy Pilling continues to carry on his family's LFC legacy
• The mature, driven and talented Carter Pinnington