Jurgen Klopp must unleash Liverpool academy talent Jarrell Quansah when the Reds take on Leicester City in a pre-season friendly during the tour of Singapore on Sunday.
The Anfield natives kick off the Merseyside club’s trip to the Far East against the Foxes at the National Stadium. Bayern Munich also await Liverpool in Asia as Klopp’s team ramp up their preparations for the Premier League season in the hopes of a stronger campaign in 2023/24.
Klopp has taken a 27-man team to Singapore and has included Liverpool academy prospect Quansah in his plans. The 20-year-old is one of a number of centre-halves to make the tour. Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip also offer the Reds senior depth.
Klopp has already taken a close look at Quansah in pre-season
Quansah has already featured in Klopp’s thinking this summer after also making Liverpool’s mini-camp in Germany. He even took to the pitch during the Reds’ friendlies with Karlsruher SC and SpVgg Greuther Furth. Klopp introduced the youngster in both ties as a substitute.
Van Dijk made way for Quansah against Karlsruher at half-time during Liverpool’s 4-2 win at the Bundesliga 2 outfit. The Dutchman also made way for the youngster at half-time as the Reds drew 4-4 with Greuther Furth. Klopp has taken a keen interest in Quansah’s progress.
Now, though, Klopp must unleash Quansah from the off when Liverpool face Leicester over in Singapore. Their friendly with the Foxes offers the Reds boss his best chance so far to see if the Warrington-born enforcer is ready to cement his claim to a first-team role in 2023/24.
The Liverpool talent enjoyed his first senior minutes this year
Quansah could offer Klopp a valuable squad option behind Liverpool’s senior centre-halves next season. But the England Under-20 international is still yet to make his first-team debut for the Reds. He has only featured among the unused substitutes for three matches to date.
Bristol Rovers provided Quansah with his first taste of first-team football this year, however. Joey Barton signed the centre-half on loan in January for Quansah’s first temporary transfer away from Anfield. He also played him in 16 League One fixtures, of which he started in 15.
Quansah impressed Barton greatly during his time on loan at Bristol Rovers last season. The former Reds academy prospect and Manchester City midfielder praised the defender having been ‘excellent’ from the moment that Quansah arrived at Memorial Stadium this January.
“He’s gone away with England and done well with them,” Barton continued, via quotes by Bristol World, in April. “[He] got a goal and he’s come back and it looks like he’s figured out how to head the ball. He would probably be our top scorer if he’d had known that before.”
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