Unlike in most other industries, it is possible that having a successful relative can become something of a burden for anyone looking to make their way in football.
Instead of a leg up, these family ties can often lead to a level of expectation building up around a young player taking their first steps in the game.
And that can make delivering on any promise in an already ludicrously competitive field even more difficult.
But, if being Ian Rush's great nephew is weighing down Owen Beck in any way, you wouldn't be able to tell from the meteoric nature of his recent rise.
The 18-year-old has today put pen to paper on a new five-year contract with the club, his third set of fresh terms since signing a maiden professional deal last summer.
He also joins the first-team squad for a pre-season training camp in Austria hoping to make statement about his potential to the manager.
Beck has, in fact, already been training regularly with Jurgen Klopp's squad over the course of a transformative last 12 months, earning plenty of plaudits from senior players in that time.
It is a development that seemed unlikely in the years prior to his arrival at U18 level, which were defined by the player never quite feeling that he was a guaranteed starter.
That struggle was partly down to a change of position which, though later shown to be inspired, led to a degree of short-term pain.
It was at half-time of an U13s game against Huddersfield Town that Barry Lewtas decided to move Beck from his traditional attacking midfield role to left-back.
He has stayed there ever since but, as one of the youngest in his age group thanks to his August birthday, initially found it difficult to stand up to physical opposition as a result of his smaller stature.
That resulted in some tough seasons and low moments in which the guidance of Lewtas and academy director Alex Inglethorpe proved vital.
It was also handy to have Liverpool 's all-time record goalscorer to lean on for advice from time to time, too.
With the help of that support, Beck eventually emerged as a key player for the U18s before quickly jumping to U23s level and then becoming a regular in first-team training.
And the frequency with which he has signed contracts during that period suggests that Liverpool are just as delighted with his progress.
It is a dream situation for a boyhood Red and his grandmother Carole, who has already had the pleasure of watching her brother Ian star for the club.
Beck's next goal as he looks to emulate his great uncle on that front is a first-team debut, which could well come in one of this summer's pre-season friendlies.
From there, continuing to defy expectations would be a sensible target for a player who has made a habit of doing that throughout his fledgling career.
