Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp plays down Luke Littler comparison to young players
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp moved to take the pressure off his young stars by saying “nobody is Luke Littler”.
Klopp likened the impact of his academy players to Littler, who reached the World Darts Championship final in January aged 16, after the 3-0 FA Cup win against Southampton on Wednesday.
Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns, both 18, scored against the Saints.
“I don’t feel that, I know that,” said Klopp when asked if he had to protect his young players.
“You [the media] are all not ready to do it so somebody has to ask for it. Nobody is Luke Littler.
“What could disturb a career for a young prospect, [media attention] is always one part of it.
“It was wonderful, they deserve it, the spotlight was on them that night [against Southampton].
“You don’t live on the planet if you don’t see how special the story was but, besides that, the next challenge is now how to deal with all the things coming up.
“These boys are fantastic in that department as well. Really down to earth and grounded, all that is absolutely fine.”
Klopp has had to use his youngsters because of the club’s lengthy injury list and they helped the Reds beat Chelsea in the EFL Cup final last Sunday before the victory over Southampton.
Bobby Clark and James McConnell, who are 19, and Danns, played in both games, while Koumas, Trey Nyoni, 16, and 19-year-old Kaide Gordon featured against Southampton.
Jarell Quansah, who is 21, and Conor Bradley, 20, have become regulars in the team this season while Harvey Elliott, 20, has made more than 100 appearances for the club.
Liverpool had a picture with the EFL Cup trophy taken on Thursday that included all the academy staff because Klopp “wanted everyone to feel and understand the role they played in that whole story”.
Klopp is stepping down at the end of the season and was asked if the impact of the young players would make it tougher to leave.
“I love the more senior players as well, I will miss them as well,” he said.
“Seeing the young boys coming through just gives me a very good feeling for the future of the club, which is more important than anything.
“I will miss them and follow them but it is about what is right and that’s why I will do it and not because I don’t like some players and want to leave because of that.
“But now they are young players I like them more and I should stay because of that? It’s not like that, definitely not.”
Liverpool go into Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest top of the Premier League, a point in front of Manchester City and two clear of Arsenal.
Forward Darwin Nunez and midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai are back in training, while midfielder Wataru Endo and left-back Andy Robertson are expected to return on Friday.