While Liverpool completed an £150m midfield overhaul this summer, they were unsuccessful when it came to strengthening their defensive ranks.
Klopp had admitted the Reds were in the market for a new centre-back back in May
Having infamously lost all their senior centre-backs to season-ending injuries as recently as the 2020/21 campaign, such a decision was something of a gamble
But the emergence of Jarell Quansah from the Reds’ academy has ensured that it is one that has certainly not backfired.
The 20-year-old has made nine appearances for Liverpool so far this campaign, having enjoyed a half-season loan stint with League One Bristol Rovers
Quansah is aware that such a step-up, which he has made seamlessly at Anfield, is rather unusual in elite-level football.
Quansah
“You can look at that both ways, can’t you?”
“‘Surprised’ could be deemed as an interesting word, but I think the way he (Klopp) means it, I wasn’t really expected to be there yet.
“I don’t think it was a surprise of, I’ve trained with them before and I’m not a good player. I think it was how soon it came and how I’ve dealt with the adversity that I have been thrown into.
"I wouldn’t say it was a surprise as in if he thought I was going to be a good player or not, because I’ve shown that before in training sessions."
“It’s probably not expected from going from a loan at Bristol Rovers to straight into the first team, and do as well as I did I think. That’s where the surprise came from.”
Quansah added
“In myself I've never had a time-frame,”
“I’m never one to say, ‘give me two years and it's going to be this’.
"I've always known people just get thrown in and always known it could happen at any moment. I've always been ready for that and that is why I don't get overawed by it as much.
“Probably when I was 16, I mentally prepared myself. Obviously not thinking I'd play at 16, but knowing at that age that something crazy could happen.
“What really helped was we had the season where centre-backs got injured and it was Rhys Williams, Nat Phillips and we got (Ozan) Kabak as well. I think at that time I was 17/18 but I was fourth or fifth choice then.
“I was like, ‘if something happens to them I could be somewhere’. From then I knew I needed to maximise everything I can.”
Quansah continues
“When I was younger, I always watched the older generation,” he said. “I love watching different countries and the way they defend. I always looked at, in Spain, Sergio Ramos.
"I always looked at Bonucci in Italy. Sometimes I’d go on a mad one and watch any South American defenders. Especially Argentinian because I love the way they defend.
“Yeah (they defend differently). Cristian Romero and players like that. You see how much it means to them. I’d love to have that experience abroad, it’s just different ways of defending and stuff like that.
“That’s the way I look at other players. When I mould everything into one, I don’t think there is a specific formula that’s the best. If you could have a bit of everything, that would be good.”
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