Klopp calls up 8 Liverpool youth academy players to first-team training

Jurgen Klopp has called up eight Liverpool youth academy players to train with the first team

A report by Express claims that Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp called up eight youth academy players to train with the first-team at their new AXA training complex this week. The club prepares to face Leicester City this weekend with up to eight first-team starters out of the squad.

Klopp closely observed the rising stars of the youth academy this week amidst an injury crisis at the club, as most of the Liverpool first-team players were away on international duty. (h/t Express)

Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah are set to miss the clash against Leicester City. Adding to that, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all a major doubt to start in the weekend encounter.

England U-21 starter Rhys Williams (L) is the latest Liverpool player to pick an injury on international duty. (GETTY Images)

Youngster Rhys Williams was left out of the England U-21 squad on Tuesday due to a hip problem. In some positive news, Andy Robertson featured for the full 90 minutes in Scotland’s match against Israel this Wednesday.

Keeping all of this in mind, Klopp called up eight academy prospects to train with the first-team this week in their newly unveiled £50 million training complex in Kirkby. Young goalkeepers Marcelo Pitaluga, Vitezslav Jaros, and Jakub Ojrzynsk were amongst the eight players called up.

18-year-old centre-back Billy Koumetio was also involved, as were talented midfielders Jake Cain and Leighton Clarkson. These three names could even go on to feature in our 18-man squad this weekend as Klopp faces an unprecedented injury crisis in midfield and defence.

Billy Koumetio was one of the youngsters involved in the first-team training session this week. (GETTY Images)

Winger Luis Longstaff and striker Paul Glatzel completed the bunch of eight academy players.

The Reds face league leaders Leicester City on Sunday night at Anfield. Klopp’s men are on a 63-match unbeaten run in the league at Anfield and haven’t lost to Leicester City in over 3 years but both those streaks will face the litmus test this weekend.