Virgil van Dijk knows Liverpool’s young guns are in the best place to succeed - but still warned them the hard work is still to come.
The Kop captain has seen it before when academy graduates burst onto the first-team scene. While he’s seen some go on to great things, others have vanished or fallen down the leagues.
So it was clear in his instruction to the likes of Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns that they have a long way to go despite their FA Cup heroics. It was the first time two 18 year olds have scored in the same game for the Reds as they swept past Southampton on Wednesday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s injury-hit squad has had to turn to the academy conveyor belt of talent to get them through to the next round. Bobby Clark and James McConnell - both in their teens - were bright sparks while Trey Nyoni, at 16, made his debut in the second half.
While Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah were two of the more experienced players on the pitch for the Reds despite only having a handful of senior starts. Some had helped them beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and now Danns and Koumas - the sons of Neil and Jason respectively - got their first senior goals. A credit to the work of academy boss Alex Inglethorpe.
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"Even learning from being around the first team is massive and you should soak it all in and don't get carried away,” said 32-year-old Van Dijk, when asked how the youngsters can learn from the likes of him.
Koumas gets a hug from Klopp as he goes off following his earlier goal (AFP via Getty Images)“In my career I've seen players who make their debuts after coming through the ranks and then disappear. For them it is about taking it all in and keep working and I am sure they will as they are at an amazing club to do that. They have to keep improving, keep working; staying humble is a very important thing but we have a great culture and I'm definitely one of the guys to make sure they keep doing that.”
Inglethorpe wasn’t even at Anfield to watch his proteges shine as he was overseeing U15 training at the club’s Kirkby training base on a wet and miserable Merseyside night. The talent factory doesn’t stop just because some of the products have been dispatched to the first team.
“In my time here Curtis [Jones] came through, Trent [Alexander-Arnold] was at the beginning, Caoimh [Kelleher] as well,” said Van Dijk.
“When we need them they have to be there and don't feel the pressure, they have to perform and just show their qualities and they will have difficult moments and will struggle and have mistakes and it is about how you deal with it and they are doing outstanding.
“Jayden scored two goals, Koumas scored, 16-year-old Trey comes on, Quansah plays outstanding again, Conor did well. It was an amazing night if you are part of the process from the academy side. The definitely need to be hungry in order to want more but it starts behind the scenes in terms of staying patient and humble.”
Danns scored twice against the Saints on a sensational night (Getty Images)Van Dijk urged the young players to “be patient” when they slip back into the U21s team in the coming weeks as first-team stars return to full fitness. But the young guns have played a significant part in what could be a remarkable season for table-topping Liverpool, who now have an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United to look forward to.
They’ve got a Europa League to contest and one pot already in the trophy cabinet after winning the Carabao Cup on Sunday but that went on a little detour from Wembley before it was brought back to the club.
“I took it after the home because I wanted to show my kids in person close up,” added Van Dijk. “I put it on the kitchen counter when I came home and left it there before bringing it to the training ground.”
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