Liverpool have secured their first piece of silverware this season with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. Jurgen Klopp’s injury-ravaged Reds put in an inspirational display against an expensively assembled Chelsea side, with captain Virgil van Dijk’s header late in extra time proving decisive.
The boss was glowing following the hard-fought victory, describing it as ‘the most special trophy I ever won’. It was also a proud day for everyone connected to Liverpool’s academy, with the likes of Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Bobby Clark all putting in mature performances to help the team over the line.
Alongside that trio, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott have also had a big effect on the club’s recent fortunes. Relative veteran Caoimhín Kelleher also made a string of excellent saves, with Klopp repeating his claim that the Irishman is the best reserve goalkeeper in world football.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, experienced LFC reporter Neil Jones spoke about the fantastic work of the club’s academy.
‘IN THE SAME BREATH AS GERRARD’ – Liverpool Academy Coach On Trent Alexander-Arnold
Neil said:
“I think back to 2018, I sat down with Jürgen Klopp in New Jersey in the hotel on Liverpool’s pre-season tour and I asked him about moving from Melwood to Kirkby. I had a look at the quotes this morning, funnily enough, on the way before I came here.
“He said, ‘We want to make it the football headquarters of Merseyside, where every player at every age level is an outstanding footballer.’ I am planning to ask him this later today – you’ve done it, haven’t you?!
“Liverpool’s academy is producing footballers that know how to play what the game dictates, and what the manager dictates.
“You look at the tactical awareness of James McConnell, the composure, the physicality, the bravery. Don’t forget, he’s up against Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo… players that he’s got no right to be competing with, let alone dominating, and he’s doing it.
“I thought Bobby Clark’s impact on the game was just staggering. Regular watchers of this will know what a fan I am of Bobby, but even that surprised me in the sense of the level, and the willingness to put his body into battle.
“Jayden Danns – I saw him make his debut for the Under-21s this season at Morecambe. Three minutes off the bench in an EFL trophy game.
“Coming on in the final… what an impact he had. Two chances to score, I think he had a shot on target within 90 seconds of coming on the pitch.
“Massive, massive kudos to those players, but also to the academy, because they’re preparing that. They’re not going in learning the job when they go into the first team… they’ve got the fundamentals of how Liverpool play.
“All the way through the Carabao Cup run there’s been a flavour of Kirkby involved. I know there’ll be a few glasses raised on Sunday night – so there should be. They should be very proud of them.”
THE PROS AND CONS OF XABI ALONSO FOR LIVERPOOL
Redmen Reacts
Pride. The overwhelming emotion from Sunday night. Such is the strength of Liverpool’s current squad, the XI which took to the field were certainly a match for Chelsea’s ‘billion-pound bottle jobs’, despite the injuries to key players in a number of positions. The true test was always likely to come if the game went into extra time. Which – given the opposition – of course it did. It seemed like ‘Klopp’s kids’ would have to make do with hanging on bravely for half an hour in the face of a blue onslaught. It was nothing of the sort. James McConnell found himself dictating play against two of the most expensive midfielders of all time. Bobby Clark buzzed about the field, winning the corner from which the decisive goal was scored. Jayden Danns had almost made himself the hero earlier in the piece.
The health of the academy could end up being Jürgen Klopp’s ultimate parting gift. The integration of the younger age levels at the AXA has worked wonders. Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley are playing like experienced regulars, despite having made around 30 appearances between them. If you are lucky enough to get to watch an LFC academy team in the flesh you will see the patterns of play of the senior team replicated. Full-backs will bomb on bravely, and centre-backs will spray the ball around like miniature Virgils. Inverted wingers will cut inside and get shots off on their stronger feet. It’s all there. Not all of these players will go on to have stellar careers, of course, but whoever inherits this football club will have a fantastic group of first-team moulded players who are raring to go.
WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE FULL SHOW ON REDMEN PLUS WHEN YOU SIGN UP
