Eight years on from being handed his Premier League debut by Jurgen Klopp at the end of the German’s first season in charge of Liverpool, academy graduate Cameron Brannagan described how his formative years spent learning from “superstar” teammates “set the standard” for his success in the EFL.
At the age of 28, with 200 professional appearances under his belt, the Oxford United star fondly remembers being helped by “fantastic” senior players at the club, naming Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Phillipe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva as “helpful” role models who shaped his game.
During Brannagan’s time rising through the ranks on Merseyside, he saw the club win a host of major trophies including the 2005 Champions League under Rafael Benitez.
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In an interview with Sportsboom, the midfielder relived the way his teammates bedded him into a star-studded dressing room and picked out several leaders from his breakthrough season: “It is quite daunting when you go into a dressing room and you have superstars there, but they were fantastic in making you feel comfortable.
“As time went on and I got a bit older [Adam] Lallana and [James] Milner. [Jordan] Henderson were fantastic.”
“There were so many during my time at Liverpool that would help you out. If they thought anything they would come and tell you.”
Brannagan stated the importance of tough love in nurturing young talent, highlighting how his experienced teammates kept the bar high at all times: “They set the standard and if you weren’t at that standard or competing to be the best and wanting to win everything then they would let you know.”
The advice Brannagan received from his Liverpool teammates as a youngster has served him well. Now an Oxford United stalwart, he played a leading role as the side were promoted through the League One play-offs last season.
And in the choppy waters of the Championship, Brannagan has been ever-present in Oxford’s battle to stay afloat in the second tier, starting 25 of the U’s games this season with the club currently four places above the dreaded relegation zone.
Now an influential leader inside the Oxford dressing room, he passes on the teachings of his former Champions League teammates to young players breaking into the first team: “I try and use that [advice] now I’m a bit of an older pro now to help any young players who have a long journey ahead of them.
“The lads will tell you that themselves, I hate losing. I think a lot of that drive comes from within and wanting to be successful.”
“Winning’s a habit, losing’s a habit in my eyes. You train every day to win and if you don’t, you’ll be a loser, that’s a fact.”
Brannagan made his senior debut in the Europa League at Bordeaux as a teenager and finished the 2015/16 season by playing the final three Premier League games of the campaign.
Reflecting on his time playing in Liverpool colours, he said: “When I look back, I wanted more of it if I’m honest. I wanted to play first-team football every week.”
“Coming on for my Premier League debut was a special moment with all my family there. It was something I had worked towards from five years old as crazy as that sounds after going through the ranks there.
But Brannagan conceded that he knew when the time was right to make the move from Merseyside in search of pastures new, and more consistent first-team football: “At the time, Liverpool wasn’t going to be my pathway to play professional football every week.”
“So, when that opportunity came to jump ship, I was only a young kid so I had to take that opportunity to show I was more than good enough to play professional football.”
