Jurgen Klopp has urged Liverpool’s young centre-backs to seize the opportunity made available by the injury to Virgil van Dijk. Van Dijk is unlikely to play again this season as he prepares for surgery on the damaged anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg after an x-rated challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford last weekend. With Joel Matip also absent, 19-year-old defender Rhys Williams made his Champions League bow as a late substitute in the 1-0 win at Ajax on Wednesday. The teenager, who spent last season on loan at National League North side Kidderminster Harriers, had been given a senior Reds debut alongside Van Dijk in the Carabao Cup tie at Lincoln City last month.
Jurgen Klopp said “It’s a nice story, I saw it in his eyes after the game that he was pretty impressed by that occasion. He is a big talent, not only physically big but is a real talent. It is nice to have him around. He played last year in non-league, and that makes it special. As always in life, when something bad happens, when the dust settles you can see the opportunities again. It’s all about doing With our situation, we have Nat Phillips here as well and Billy the kid and they are really around. Nat Phillips we thought would be transferred, but at the last second it didn’t happen. We already brought him back from Stuttgart for one game last season against Everton in which he did really well. These are solutions for us, and help us a lot. The boys are great, and it is a big opportunity for them.”
