Jurgen Klopp Praises Young Players During Pre-Season
Jurgen Klopp has hailed the ability of the younger players he has called upon during the early stages of pre-season.
The summer can often provide opportunities for youth prospects to showcase their talents and Liverpool’s trip to Germany has been no exception so far. The Reds kicked off preparations for 2023/24 with a 4-2 win over Karlsruher and the manager lauded the performances of what he described as “the kids” after the match.
“We saw the kids how good they were. James [McConnell] never played a six before and today he played there and it was so nice to watch, to be honest. Bobby [Clark] first half did really well,” said Klopp.
Ben Doak and Conor Bradley Shine
“Ben Doak, oh my God, it’s much fun to watch these kids. Calum [Scanlon] I’ve known him only nine days, he was injured before and now he was there. [Lewis] Koumas came on, Conor Bradley really good.”
Klopp is always effusive of his praise for the club’s youngsters, building them up and making them feel part of the senior squad, but there is a real feeling that in Doak and Bradley in particular Liverpool have some quality coming through.
Doak already has five first-team appearances to his name and was given predictably warm praise from Klopp after his latest showing against the German side. Bradley and Clark were both trusted from the start by the boss, with the former having recently returned from a successful loan spell at Bolton and the latter registering 22 Premier League 2 appearances for the Reds last season.
Youngsters Look to Impress Again
McConnell netted five times in 13 U18 Premier League appearances last season, with Scanlon notching two assists from his seven outings from left-back. 17-year-old forward Koumas scored an impressive 12 times in 13 appearances in the same competition in 2022/23 and is already showing signs of a bright future ahead.
The youngsters will be hoping to get another opportunity to shine on Monday night when Liverpool come up against Greuther Furth in the second and final friendly of the Germany tour.
Klopp’s Faith in Youth
Klopp has long been an advocate of youth development and his faith in young players is evident in his willingness to give them a chance to prove themselves. The German manager has shown that he is willing to give young players an opportunity to shine and this pre-season tour has been no exception.
The likes of Doak, Bradley, McConnell, Clark, Scanlon and Koumas have all been given a chance to impress and have taken it with both hands. With Klopp at the helm, these young players have a great opportunity to continue their development and become key members of the first team.
Conclusion
Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Germany has provided an opportunity for some of the club’s young players to show what they are capable of. Jurgen Klopp has been full of praise for the youngsters, highlighting their performances in the 4-2 win over Karlsruher. Ben Doak, Conor Bradley, James McConnell, Bobby Clark, Calum