Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has spoken highly about youngsters Rhian Brewster and Ben Woodburn and has said that they will get their playing opportunities next term. Klopp named the 17-year old Brewster as the only natural striker on the bench for the Crystal Palace game which the Reds lost.
Injuries have hit the Merseysiders badly this season and they have had to do a lot of rotation to keep the squad going in what has been a difficult season. Liverpool do have a chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League but the Manchester Clubs seem to have the upper hand.
Talking about his plans for next season, Jurgen Klopp told the Liverpool Echo:
“I know what we want to do but I will not talk about this now. It is not about keeping a position for them – they are too young for this. They have to develop, they have to learn. They have 17-year or 18-year careers ahead of them.”
“They need to be prepared for the moment when they are really proper players and until then we use them when we need to. We involve them when we think they are ready. It should not be the case that we are relying on them for next season, but there will always be space for them to perform in a few matches if they are ready in this moment.”
“Because boys like this have ups and downs, if there is a game they could play but they are not in the right shape then they will not play.”
While Brewster has not played for the Liverpool senior team this term, Woodburn has been fortunate enough to make 8 appearances for the first-team and even scored in the club’s EFL Cup tie against Leeds United.
Woodburn is a player who is really rated by Klopp and his coaching staff at Anfield and is tipped to have a bright future. It sounds rather encouraging to see Klopp having plans to give young players their opportunities as Liverpool have always had the reputation of producing some top class young talents from within.
First-team opportunities to these two budding young players would be of massive help and they will have to make use of it in the most effective way possible.
