Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp highlighted the development of the academy players as one of the major positives from this season

Jurgen Klopp acknowledged the impressive development of the Liverpool academy players as one of the major positions from this season. Klopp has successfully installed a culture that balances the development of players with the continuous pursuit of trophies despite having cash-rich rivals.

Liverpool have continuously operated with a restricted budget, emphasising creating superstars instead of buying them regularly like their rivals. The Reds stayed a consistent competitor for the financially dominant Manchester City while other rich clubs struggled for relevancy.

Klopp made an early announcement that he is stepping back from the managerial role at the end of this season. The Reds’ sudden dip in form hit their ambition, but the German team has plenty of positives to take from this season.

Klopp told the post-match press conference (Liverpoolfc.com) that the successful development of the academy players is one major positive. He said:

“Harvey is already in his third season, if not the fourth. He’s already a while here, he was already the best player and badly injured and stuff like this. But, yes, a good game today. Jarell [Quansah], yes, Conor [Bradley], yes, James McConnell, Bobby Clark, Kaide Gordon, [he was] long, long injured [but] back now, really good, Stefan Bajcetic. So, the basis is there, and all the other big guns really; the basis is there. New influences always help, that’s how it is. We did what we could and if we could have done better, we probably would have, let me say it like that”

The academy players played a pivotal role for Liverpool amid the severe injury crisis, winning the Carabao Cup against Chelsea. Harvey Elliott, Conor Bradley and Caoimhin Kelleher are the academy players who started in the Carabao Cup final for Liverpool.

Furthermore, Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jayden Danns and Jarell Quansah played a key role as the substitutes in the final. Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas also made it to the bench but did not feature for the Reds.

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Klopp has provided opportunities to academy players consistently, with Quansah and Bradley securing their position in the senior team this season. Elliott, Curtis Jones, Kelleher and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also the senior team players who earned promotion from the academy under Klopp.

The Liverpool academy has enjoyed a lot of success and a rise in reputation under the 56-year-old’s regime. Clark, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak, Danns, Kaide Gordon, Nyoni, McConnell, Luke Chambers and Koumas have high expectations to establish themselves in the senior team or at least have a fruitful professional career.