Liverpool have been impressed by the kids this preseason.
As the transfer world buzzes with rumour after rumour, the Reds pre-season preparations have instead been dominated by the quality already at the club.
Rather than the usual suspects of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Fabinho getting all the plaudits, it’s been the youth players that have caught the eye of journalists and more importantly, Jurgen Klopp.
While Liverpool fans clamor for big name signings the likes of Harvey Elliott, Sepp van den Berg, and Billy Koumetio have been working hard in the hills of Austria proving to all within the club that Liverpool FC is already in safe hands.
17-year-old Koumetio in particular has impressed the gaffer, who labeled him ‘a big talent’, during an interview with LFC TV.
"“Billy the kid. He doesn’t look like a kid!” said Klopp.“In my opinion, his face looks like a kid but then all the rest is like, wow! I told him, ‘Last time I saw you, you were like 20 centimetres less if I’m right.’ That’s pretty special. Yes, he’s a big talent.”"
Koumetio has suffered a bit with injury since he joined the Reds in 2018 so this is his first real opportunity to impress the senior coaching staff and he seems to relish being in the limelight.
Harvey Elliott is another youngster working hard to push for a first team spot with his work being applauded by none other than Virgil Van Dijk in the last few days. After winning a 50-50 challenge with Mo Salah, Elliott then whipped in a perfect cross for Takumi Minamino to volley home leaving big Virg to proclaim, “Oh, what a ball”
With the former Fulham player out working his more illustrious opponent, Andy Robertson was the first to get on the Egyptian’s back, shouting, “F####ng hell, get there Mo.”
"“To be up against Mo and to see what he does, how he moves, the way in which he changes his speed; he’s world-class and so tricky to deal with,” explained Elliott on LFC TV.“If I can keep up with Mo, then I know I’m doing OK! I look up to him a lot.”"
With the Community Shield tie against Arsenal less than two weeks away it seems less and less likely that any signing of note will be signed in time to play. This could be an excellent opportunity to blood some of the youngsters and sees how they cope with a trophy on the line.
Elliott will surely be involved and is set to get much more game time this season as the club embarks on another long campaign and if his attitude to training is anything to go by this year could be a very exciting one.