Jurgen Klopp has praised the development of Liverpool youngster Jarell Quansah.
Quansah put in yet another fantastic performance last night, starring against LASK in the Europa League. And speaking in his post-match press conference, Klopp admitted that although he knew the 20-year-old was good, he’s been surprised at just how good.
“Look, for us that’s absolutely perfect,” gushed the Liverpool boss. “Jarell played a super game. But, by the way, the last line tonight, starting from the right… Joey [Gomez], top, top, top; Ibou [Konate], top. That we took him off was a medical decision. No risks, stuff like this, give him minutes but not too long and Jarell played a super game, that’s true.
“That couldn’t be better news for the club, to be honest. I think before this season a lot of people told us we should buy a centre-half.
“We knew we had Jarell. Did we know that he will show up like this? No, not exactly, but we were pretty hopeful, so the future is bright. It’s cool.
“Our own boy, calm on the ball, good in the challenge, quick, ruthless in the right moments and besides Caoimhin, who had one or two saves, [he] probably had the most spectacular defensive situations when he saved our backside in some moments. So, that’s really good. [It’s] top news for us.”
Quansah looks the part
Klopp has hit the nail on the head with his answer here. Back in the summer, there was a certain amount of frustration from supporters about Liverpool’s decision not to bring in a new centre-half.
With Joel Matip ageing, Gomez dipping slightly and Konate injury-prone, it looked like another option was needed.
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Having been out on-loan in League One with Bristol Rovers last season, few would have predicted Quansah to be that option. But so far, the youngster has looked the absolute part.
Put it this way, had a £30m or £40m signing been brought in and played the way he has, at 20-years-old, there’d be all sorts of grand claims being made about their future.
Quansah has certainly had plenty of praise – of which he’s been completely deserving – but no one’s suggesting Liverpool have the next Virgil van Dijk on their hands or anything like that.
Now of course we have to manage expectations around Jarell, but we don’t see why that actually can’t be the case.
His passing is superb, his reading of the game is way above his years and his all-round defending is crisp and tidy. Quansah really does look like he’s been playing for Liverpool for years.
There will be a rocky spell at some stage, as all players go through. But for the time being, Klopp’s decision to stay out of the market and back his academy looks like a masterstroke. Keep it going, Jarell!