Jurgen Klopp waxes lyrical about Liverpool youngsters after debuts

Jurgen Klopp praised the trio of youngsters who made their first-team debuts in the win over Toulouse on Thursday.

19-year-old Luke Chambers made his full debut, starting at left back in the 5-1 rout, while 18-year-old Calum Scanlon and 19-year-old James McConnell made their first senior appearances of any kind coming off the bench in the second half at Anfield.

All three players impressed on the night, while, after the game, Chambers admitted he had been dreaming of this moment since he was six years old.

READ MORE: 3 talking points from Liverpool's 5-1 win over Toulouse

In his post-match press conference, Klopp was quick to talk up his talented young trio, as well as the other academy options challenging for first-team roles.

On Liverpool's debutants, the manager said: "Really nice. They all deserve it massively. Luke had a long injury. He had a really good year last year in Scotland, [there was] was a lot of interest there in the summer but I didn't blink for a second and then I thought, 'Oh come on, let him go.' Because I really think that in the moment our U23s when they are all together, that's a super-strong side and that's important as well.

"And they train with us. The session we had yesterday, the minus-one session, a proper minus-one session – in the longer period between Premier League and the Europa League then you have a proper session – you don't get that somewhere, this quality, and stuff like this. So it's really important that the boys go through that as well. Pleased for him.

"I wouldn't say Luke is in the moment in a top, top, top shape because of the injury and because of another little setback. But we 100 per cent believe in him and trust him, and I wanted to show that tonight.

"On the position the next one is knocking on the door with Calum. Everybody could see a really exciting player, had a few situations where he was maybe too excited, but a real talent, a real talent and a real heart for football. And James played a sensational pre-season for us. We gave him a new position, put him on the six, and he did really well there because he's very smart, and he deserves it as well.

"If Ben Doak would have been available tonight, he would have got minutes, like Bobby Clark probably would have minutes, so that's how it is.

"And we should not forget Jarell Quansah, who played again. So a lot of good boys coming up and it's not enough that I tell them what they do from time to time – not too often but from time to time – but sometimes you have to show it.

"Tonight we had the opportunity to do so and we did, and that's good."

During pre-season, Klopp suggested the current group of young players at Liverpool are among the best he's ever worked with.

There are likely to be further opportunities for the Reds' rising stars in the coming weeks, with two more Europa League group games still to play, as well as a Carabao Cup clash with Bournemouth on 1 November.