Jurgen Klopp has urged Liverpool’s young centre-backs to seize the opportunity made available by the injury to Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk is unlikely to play again this season as he prepares for surgery on the damaged anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg after an x-rated challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford last weekend.
With Joel Matip also absent, 19-year-old defender Rhys Williams made his Champions League bow as a late substitute in the 1-0 win at Ajax on Wednesday.
The teenager, who spent last season on loan at National League North side Kidderminster Harriers, had been given a senior Reds debut alongside Van Dijk in the Carabao Cup tie at Lincoln City last month.
And with Nat Phillips and Billy Koumetio also part of the squad, Klopp believes there will be chances for the youngsters to impress in the coming months.
“It’s a nice story,” said the Reds boss of Williams’ European bow. “I saw it in his eyes after the game that he was pretty impressed by that occasion.
“He is a big talent, not only physically big but is a real talent. It is nice to have him around.
“He played last year in non-league, and that makes it special.
“As always in life, when something bad happens, when the dust settles you can see the opportunities again.
“It’s all about doing the right things in the right moment. For Rhys it was his first Champions League minutes.”
Klopp revealed Phillips, a long-time target of several Championship clubs, had been expected to leave Liverpool on deadline day earlier this month only for the transfer to falter.
Koumetio, a 17-year-old France U18 international, appeared for the first team during pre-season and has recently been working his way back to full match sharpness after an injury.
And Klopp said: “With our situation, we have Nat Phillips here as well and Billy the kid and they are really around.
“Nat Phillips we thought would be transferred, but at the last second it didn’t happen.
“We already brought him back from Stuttgart for one game last season against Everton in which he did really well.
“These are solutions for us, and help us a lot. The boys are great, and it is a big opportunity for them.”
