Pep Lijnders identified three Liverpool youth players that “stand out” in January, and now Jurgen Klopp has tested his assistant’s talent-spotting abilities during preseason practice.
If there is one thing about Jurgen Klopp’s managerial style that you should be aware of, it is that he pays attention to people around him.
When the Liverpool manager was named manager of the season by the Premier League and LMA in April, he praised his backroom staff by saying, “I am nothing without my people.” Klopp is therefore quite receptive to what his right-hand man Pep Lijnders has to say.
With a new campaign on the horizon and pre-season training underway, Klopp and co are mapping out the Reds’ squad for 2022-23 in the hope of mounting another assault on all fronts. Gathering their resources in Kirby before heading off to Thailand, Singapore, Germany, and Austria for a globe-trotting tour, nine players from Liverpool’s academy linked up with the star-studded first team on Tuesday, each bidding to impress the Anfield coaching staff.
Backed by Klopp’s long-time confidant, the trio’s stock has only risen in the six months since, with defender Chambers even helping England’s under-19s win the European Championship in Slovakia last week. Given an extended break due to his international commitments, the 17-year-old was a late arrival after Newcastle-born midfielder Clark and Spanish center-back Bajcetic – both also 17 – returned to Merseyside earlier than the first team to begin training with their respective youth groups.
Bajcetic, a Vigo native, switched from Celta to Liverpool 11 months ago when he signed his first professional deal. He played in 22 games across all competitions as a three-cap under-18 international for Spain last season. In contrast, Clark, who the Reds acquired from Newcastle in August 2021, directly assisted 17 goals in the Under-18 Premier League.
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