Curtis Jones and Neco Williams will provide the inspiration for any academy prospects against Midtjylland. The Reds could field a few tonight.
Liverpool head into the game with Midtjylland in a comfortable position. So comfortable, in fact, that they don’t need to take the game too seriously.
The Reds are already through as group winners and are on the back of a 4-0 win over Wolves. Jurgen Klopp, then, could well play academy prospects against Midtjylland.
Klopp admits it’s ‘not unlikely’ that he fields a young side in Denmark. The likes of Billy Koumetio and Layton Stewart are presumably near the front of that queue.
And for any who do play, they will use Neco Williams and Curtis Jones as inspiration.
Rise to the top
It’s easy to forget that Jones and Williams were relative unknowns just 12 months ago. Since then, both have established themselves in the first-team squad.
Williams has a role as backup right-back. He’s still quite shaky and has plenty of room to grow but his last few games are encouraging.
Jones, on the other hand, is looking more and more like a first-team player. He might even be pushing a first-XI player when everyone is fit. His rise has been rapid and fully deserved.
Thus the likes of Stewart and Koumetio – and Leighton Clarkson & Jake Cain – can look at Jones and Williams as inspiration.
They are proof that good performances in ‘throwaway’ games do count for something. They’re a way into the first-team picture and next time there are injuries, your name is in contention.
There’s actually a good chance that they simply follow in the footsteps of last year’s duo. It’s a long time since we’ve really said that at Liverpool but the academy is good enough that it’s a genuine possibility.
Jones and Williams have paved the way and tonight we could see the next players to follow that path.
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