The highlights video of Brad Smith’s Liverpool debut isn’t a pretty watch. It was December 29, 2013. Three days earlier, the then-19-year-old Aussie made his first appearance on the Reds bench as they went down 2-1 to Manchester City.
Though unused on that occasion, he was part of the travelling squad to face Chelsea in what was billed as a title clash, though still early in the race.
Liverpool were deservedly 2-1 down, with their hosts putting a muzzle on an unusually tame Luis Suarez.
Stamford Bridge was a cauldron of boisterous support – Jose Mourinho’s side would move within two points of league leaders Arsenal with a win.
Thirty minutes from time, midfielder Joe Allen went down injured. The most likely to be introduced in his stead was Spanish midfielder Luis Alberto – bought for seven million pounds and with experience in La Liga the previous season.
Instead, Smith was summoned.
This was no League Cup tie used to blood in a youngster, this was the big time and the pressure was tangible.
Brendan Rodgers obviously had good reason to put his faith in Smith. The full-back had been one of the standouts in Liverpool’s youth system for many years, was voted Scholar of the Year at the end of the 2012 season, scored a cracking goal for the Under-21s against Tottenham two months earlier, and was only kept out of Liverpool’s Europa League squad the season prior by an injury setback.
To those of us who hadn’t seen him play for the academy, Smith looked underprepared for the occasion. His first few touches were heavy, he provided a few hospital balls to his teammates that were punished by crunching tackles, and he was sucked into two needless fouls that gave Chelsea a helping hand.
Perhaps it was a matter of being out of his comfort zone, having been deployed on the wing rather than in his preferred full-back role.
While some in Australia looked at the occasion at face value with joy that one of our own had played for Liverpool, it was a poor match by Premier League standards. That wasn’t the match to give a youngster his first taste of Premier League action, especially in what would be Liverpool’s best league season in recent memory.
It was only one match, but against Chelsea his touch wasn’t up to standard, his delivery left plenty to be desired, and he looked lost when defending.
Friday’s FA Cup draw with Exeter showed just how far Smith has come in a little over two years.
At St James’ Park he was incredibly assured in both attack and defence. His pace has always been a feature of his play and now he’s using it to good effect.
The Exeter game allowed him to really impress. Playing against lower league opposition with some familiar faces from the academy, he had his chance to prove he is ready for the top flight.
It’s a sign of his maturity that he was seen blasting 29-year-old defender Jose Enrique for being lazy, the Spaniard surely usurped as next in line for Alberto Moreno’s left-back spot.
The equalising goal was created and finished by Smith, his urge to drive into the box rewarded. He has all the traits that Klopp seems to want from his full-backs. He presses well and can burst forward on the counter. Moreno must be feeling slightly worried.
Smith was one of the few shining lights in Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham earlier this month, too. He strode forward with purpose and gave Christian Benteke plenty of chance with his consistent crossing. He tracked back well, and though lucky to avoid conceding a goal as Andy Carroll climbed over him late on, would have done enough to impress Jurgen Klopp.
He should get plenty more chances at Anfield this season, but whatever happens, Smith deserves full praise for the maturity he’s shown in his time at Liverpool.
Last season he was recalled from his loan at Swindon, where he made 10 appearances in League One and was handed valuable experience of the rigours of English football. He wasn’t used by Liverpool for the remainder of the campaign, which undoubtedly fuelled his desire to look for other options in the summer. The 21-year-old rejected a new deal, but it’s testament to Rodgers that the club stubbornly held his registration.
Klopp benefitted from that as Smith was tied down to a long-term contract in November, and after months of limbo, the youngster must have felt he had a good crack at making a name for himself at Liverpool.
Patience has been a rewarding trait for Smith. Three times he’s been called upon by Klopp and three times he’s delivered. That Chelsea match won’t be wiped from the memory, it will be used as motivation to kick on.
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