Liverpool’s procession to their 19th league title in record-breaking time has enabled Jurgen Klopp to experiment with his team and show off the impressive young talents at the German manager’s disposal.
One talent, in particular, Neco Williams, has been relishing the entrustment of faith from the boss after the Welshman made it back-to-back starts in the Premier League for the first time.
Having been deployed on the left in the midweek win at Brighton, Williams was redeployed to his familiar right-back duties ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the 19-year-old produced an admirable audition for his manager.
Against Burnley, once again he starred before being withdrawn after the hour mark alongside fellow academy graduate Curtis Jones, who was handed his first Premier League start.
Recently, Klopp made a vow that the club will make additions and look to improve the team internally with a number of young players being handed the platform to make the next step in their development.
“But this squad – just look at it. It is not a squad you have to change now and say: ‘OK, we need this position and this position.’ What we want is to create our transfers internally.”
This was what Klopp told the Guardian at the end of June, committing to youth players graduating into the first team rather than looking for ready-made players. His team selection on Saturday showed his belief in that strategy.
Williams has demonstrated in his last two outings that he can cover on both flanks in the full-back position and that he possesses attacking traits beyond his years.
The teenager’s attacking play was much more influential against Burnley in his favoured right-back position. Williams achieved a pass success of 87 per cent and managed to complete 45 passes as well as produce two important tackles.
He also managed 78 touches, which was only bettered by Curtis Jones, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. Williams also was able to register three shots at goal to showcase he is not shy of getting forward and contributing in attack.
All in all, it was another impressive display from the youngster and perfectly vindicated Klopp’s belief in his young players.
Following the performance, some Liverpool supporters have taken to social media to comment and congratulate the academy graduate and there was even a claim of Williams already being ahead of Manchester United right-back and England international Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Here is a look at some of the reaction on social media to Williams’ performance…
https://twitter.com/MoSalahx11/status/1281999590770782217
https://twitter.com/AccountLfc/status/1282003332803026944
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