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Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool talent wowed him the first time he saw him train, hints at first-team role
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has waxed lyrical about Anfield youngster Rhys Williams, telling he was wowed by the player the first time he saw him on the training ground.
In addition, Klopp also hinted at using the 19-year-old in the first team more often, saying he’s “one of them” who could help out with the Reds’ crisis in central defence.
This time last season, the Liverpool academy graduate was turning out for Kidderminster, having joined the non-league outfit on an initial half-season loan.
Williams impressed at Aggborough, earning himself an extension in January, but returned to Anfield after the National Leagues were curtailed in wake of the global health crisis.
A long-term contract extension at Liverpool followed in September, and to date, he has made four senior appearances for the Reds, including two in the Champions League.
After his cameo late on against Ajax last week, Williams came on for the injured Fabinho in the Midtjylland game and put in a composed performance.
“When Billy (Koumetio) was injured we thought ‘OK, how can we fill it up?’,” Klopp. “And Vitor (Matos, development coach) said, ‘No, there’s Rhys Williams, he’s really good’.
“‘Ok, bring him up’, and then I saw him the first time, and from the first moment he’s pretty impressive. He’s a character as well, which helps, so that’s the situation now.
“That’s what I mean when you have problems you need to realise there’s a problem then immediately you have to work on the solutions. Our solutions are now pretty young players.
“We will see how we will and can use them. But they will help us and we will help them, and Rhys is one of them.”
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Credit to Williams for his hard work throughout the past 18 months, impressing at Kidderminster and then wowing the coaches at Liverpool, culminating in first-team minutes.
The England youth international is a tall, commanding defender who’s great in the air and composed on the ball – all the traits needed to succeed in the game.
And with Virgil van Dijk sidelined long-term, Fabinho also out and Joel Matip coming back from injury, Williams could be in line for a lot more game time in the coming weeks.