Klopp: I'd love to bring 10 Liverpool Academy kids through so we make no new signings
Jurgen Klopp is excited about the calibre of young talent emerging from the Liverpool Academy.
Trent Alexander-Arnold could become the latest teenager to make his senior Reds debut in Tuesday night’s EFL Cup tie with Tottenham at Anfield. The talented full-back from West Derby turned 18 earlier this month and has been on the club’s books since the age of six.
Midfielder Ovie Ejaria, who was handed his first-team bow in the win at Derby in the previous round, is also in contention as Klopp prepares to field a much changed side.
“I think there’s a lot to say about a few of our young players,” Klopp said.
“The problem is that it’s not for public (discussion) because they are still young and they are really in a good way. That is why they are completely involved in the training sessions and everything we are doing.
We are really happy about the situation. One of the reasons why it is so easy for them to use the situation of training with world-class players and improving every day is because they don’t have to think about anything else. We try to keep this situation as long as possible.”
Ben Woodburn is another highly-rated youngster whose development has benefited greatly from time spent with the first-team squad at Melwood.
Klopp believes Liverpool are reaping the rewards of changing their approach to the use of loans. Fewer young players have gone out to other clubs on temporary deals this season because the manager wanted them to stay put to continue learning their trade.
“It’s good. We spoke a few months ago about how we should change a little bit the second team,” he said.
“A lot of players needed to stay here and play together in a really good team - get results, score goals and win games, plus the opportunity to train with us in different moments.
“The other way was to send them on loan at 17 or 18 years. We did this with a few players. That was a decision because of the squad.
“Of course it’s cool if we have 10 players from the Academy and we make no signing in the transfer window,” Klopp added.
“I would love to be part of the press conference when I say this! ‘No signings this year’. Then it would be: ‘But we need this, this, this and this’. I’d say: ‘But we have already’ and nobody would believe me.
etc! All good stuff to read
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