Liverpool’s U21’s manager Barry Lewtas was absolutely thrilled to see Jurgen Klopp in attendance at his side’s Premier League 2 match against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Watching on as first-team players Curtis Jones and Ben Doak featured in the starting XI, the youth side’s boss was spotted talking with the Reds manager at half-time.
As relayed by the Liverpool Echo, Lewtas has now lifted the lid on what was said between the pair.
“I love it! For us, it’s great,” he said.
“My job is to showcase the boys, that’s the job.
“They do watch the games back, they do watch the video. But when the boys actually see them here, they believe it really.
“Of course (Klopp being here is a chance for players to catch his eye), which makes it (the red card) a bit more of a shame really. But there’s always perks, isn’t there?
“The boys did show real good character when we did go down to 10 men. I actually thought we played really well. We just want to keep playing the way we’re playing, keep pushing on, keep developing, keep improving.
“I think he (Klopp) thought the goal was offside so that made it easy for me to have a little moan! We decided to change the shape a little bit just before half-time and keep going with that really, so it was more around that and the minutes for the boys as well.”
Lewtas loves Klopp watching on
Whilst watching the U21’s always provides a good opportunity for the first-team staff to scout out the youngsters coming through the academy, it also gives senior players returning from injury the chance to build their fitness back up.
For example, Jones has been out of action for a large proportion of the season due to a bone injury. Instead of throwing him back into first-team action, a run out with the youth side is exactly what he needs to find his feet again.
The likes of Doak and Calvin Ramsay would have been hoping to impress Klopp, given they have been awarded minutes with the senior squad this season.
With a lack of depth in the Liverpool squad, the German has had to become more reliant on various youngsters this term.
Therefore, with any opportunity to impress Klopp in person, the academy players always jump at the chance.
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