Jürgen Klopp will demonstrate his faith in Liverpool’s young talent by handing Cameron Brannagan, João Teixeira and Connor Randall their full Anfield debuts against Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.
The Liverpool manager is to make changes for the fourth-round tie in response to a hectic start to his Anfield reign, a growing injury list and with a visit to Chelsea to come in the Premier League on Saturday. But he has also been impressed by the impact of several youngsters in training since replacing Brendan Rodgers as manager and will reward Brannagan, Teixeira and Randall with starting roles against Eddie Howe’s side.
Klopp spoke glowingly about Brannagan on Tuesday with the 19-year-old having recently signed a new contract at Liverpool. The Salford-born midfielder, captain of Liverpool’s Under-21 team, appeared as a substitute in the Europa League draw in Bordeaux under Rodgers and is now set for his Anfield bow against Bournemouth.
“He’s a great young guy. I like his style,” said the Liverpool manager. “For his age he brings everything you need for a midfield player. He wants to play football, he’s strong, he’s clear, he’s cool.
“It’s not easy for these guys to train for the first time with a new manager and think always: ‘He’s going to make a final judgment,’ or something like this. That’s not how I work but these guys don’t know this.
“I enjoy working with these guys. We have to give these players enough time for development, for improvement – it’s really, really important.”
Klopp insisted that, in time, he would address the development of young talent “next to my first job which is to win games”. He is seeking his first as Liverpool manager having started with three draws and will also back Teixeira, the 22-year-old Portuguese attacking midfielder who spent last season on loan at Brighton, plus Randall, a 20-year-old right-back from Liverpool, to achieve that aim in the Capital One Cup.
Adam Bogdan is expected to start in goal with Liverpool’s striking options severely limited by injury to Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings.
