Neco Williams has hailed Jurgen Klopp's man-management and opened up on the advice and support he has received from Liverpool’s experienced stars.
The right-back is a graduate of the club’s Academy system and made the step up to first-team football in the early parts of last season.
He went on to make 11 appearances in all competitions and claimed a Premier League winners' medal, as well as becoming a senior Wales international last summer.
So far this season, the young full-back has made 13 appearances in all competitions but has endured mixed fortunes when representing the Reds.
Back in September, he came in for undeserved fearsome and at times personal criticism on social media following his side’s victory against Lincoln City in the League Cup.
However, the defender bounced back from that criticism and was an impressive performer against Ajax in the Champions League at Anfield in December, creating the goal for Curtis Jones that clinched top spot in Group D for the Reds.
“He has played a massive part in my career so far,” Williams said on relationship with Klopp. “From when you’re a little kid, you always dream of playing for the team you’ve always played for.
“For me to be at Liverpool since I was six and to come through the stages and to make my debut was a surreal moment for me.
“It’ll be a moment that I never forget. And to make it under Jürgen Klopp is an extra little boost for me and was a special moment.”
Before he continued: "He is like that for all the players, as soon as you have maybe a few bad games or a bad game he will be the first one to come up to you and go through things you need to improve on or what you can do better.
“He also tells you what you’re good at. That just gives you that confidence to go out and keep going on the training ground or playing out on the field.
“He has played a massive role in my career so far, as in he has helped me go through the bad times, I’ve matured in a way off him because he has taught me the more senior side of the game. He has taught me a lot since I made my debut.”
Former Liverpool star Adam Lallana took aim at the 'keyboard warriors' who aimed online abuse at Williams back in November.
And the youngster has now opened up on the support he has received from not just Lallana, but the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner as well.
He said: “I’ve had help off a lot of players, more the senior players, the more experienced ones. Obviously James Milner – he has helped me a lot because he has been around for a while now and he has had that experience.
“He helps me a lot if I’m doing well, what I need to improve on. Or if I’ve had a few bad games, he’ll tell me what I need to improve on.
“He has played a massive part. And obviously the likes of Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana when he was here, they played massive roles. They just help you a lot.
“But that’s not just with me, that’s with all the young lads who come through or even all the team, everyone speaks together to see what we need to improve on and what we need to do. They have helped me a lot since I made a breakthrough and came up here.”
Jurgen Klopp’s side are currently seventh in the Premier League table, a huge 25 points behind leaders Manchester City heading into the final few months of the season.
And while acknowledging that the campaign hasn’t gone the way Liverpool’s players wanted it to, Williams admits he has been able to use the season as a learning curve.
“This season is more of a learning curve, I’m gaining the experience and I’m learning new things every day,” he said.
“Obviously this season hasn’t gone how we wanted it. For me, it’s more of a learning curve and to take things on board to learn off this.
“I’m sure that’s the exact same for all the other players and all the other young lads. This is just a learning curve and this is gaining more experience for what’s to come in the future.”
