Who is Kornel Misciur? The surprise Liverpool starlet travelling to Galatasaray
Liverpool are set to travel to Galatasaray on Tuesday as they continue their Champions League journey.
The Reds are hoping to get to the quarter-finals of the competition but must get past the Turkish side first.
With Arne Slot under pressure, he will be hoping to go as far as possible in the competition to boost support for his job.
As a result, many may have been surprised to see Kornel Misciur included in the squad for the team that travelled to Istanbul.
In this article, Football Insider examines who the youngster is ahead of Liverpool’s mouthwatering showdown.
Who is Kornel Misciur?
Misciur is an 18-year-old goalkeeper who joined Liverpool back in 2023 from Hull City.
Despite being born in Scarborough, England, he has so far chosen to represent Poland at youth level.
Despite not making his first-team debut for the Reds yet, the goalkeeper has been commonly seen on the Champions League bench this season, coming into the squad while Alisson was injured.
This saw him make his first senior matchday squad in October 2025 against Eintracht Frankfurt.
For the academy, Misciur has been a regular in the Under 18s Premier League and has made nine appearances so far this season, conceding 24 goals. Most of these came in a terrible 7-0 mauling against Manchester United in November.
In the UEFA Youth League, the goalkeeper has also made two appearances this campaign.
Liverpool may have to focus on academy stars next season
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness said Liverpool may have to reduce the wage bill after the club released their financial figures for the 2024-25 season.
As a result, players could soon depart Anfield, especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
This could see Slot look to different avenues for quality, and one potential solution could be the academy.
Rio Ngumoha has already proven himself to be an excellent option for Liverpool, with the youngster putting in a man-of-the-match display against Wolves in the FA Cup.
If other players such as Misciur can replicate these standards if given the chance, Slot could be set to oversee a golden generation at the club.