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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Liverpool could have new debutants soon as Jurgen Klopp considers major changes

With Liverpool's defence of the Carabao Cup set to get underway next week, it would be no surprise if Jurgen Klopp had been paying closer attention to the Academy ranks of late.

Last year's triumphant League Cup campaign was the setting for senior debuts for the likes of Kaide Gordon, Harvey Blair and Conor Bradley, with more expected to follow suit when the Reds entertain Derby County at Anfield in six days' time.

Stefan Bajcetic and Bobby Clark are likely to be part of that squad, while summer signing Calvin Ramsay could also be in the mix after his senior debut came in the closing stages of Tuesday's 2-0 win against Napoli in the Champions League.

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Excitement continues to build around young winger Ben Doak, too, following his superlative displays for Barry Lewtas and Mark Bridge-Wilkinson during a successful UEFA Youth League campaign that concluded on Tuesday with a 5-0 hammering of Napoli at Kirkby.

Another potential frontrunner for an inclusion from that crop is left-back Luke Chambers, who once more impressed with his engine, range of passing and - as evidenced by his 25-yard strike that flashed into the bottom corner - his eye for goal.

Chambers already has Anfield experience, having played in the 3-0 defeat to Strasbourg in late July, but the defender's real bow could arrive against the League One outfit on November 9.

The versatile defender says he has been given advice by the current incumbents at left-back in Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas in an effort to develop his game further.

"I still have stuff in my game that I want to improve on and I think when I go up with the first team it's also really good to look at Andy Robertson and see what he's doing and things I can take to put in my game, so I am just really grateful for the opportunity," Chambers said after the victory over Napoli earlier this week.

"I just need to keep taking these opportunities whenever they come. I do speak to Robbo and Tsimikas as well. I look at them both because obviously they are both some of the best at what they do, so I look at them both and try and get as much out of Robbo as I can and try to put stuff into my game.

"Obviously you need to adapt to the speed of what the first team play at and obviously I spoke to Robbo about things like improving my right foot and coming inside and using that a lot more, so it's about little things like that and improving my game."

On the result that secured Liverpool's U19s as Group A winners in the UEFA Youth League, Chambers added: "I think after last week we needed a reaction and a 5-0 win at home was just what we needed. It was a brilliant team performance, we kept goals out of our net and then went up the other end and scored them, so it was a perfect day.

"When you are younger and you get those opportunities, you have to make sure you take them. I think going away to places like Napoli, that puts you in really good stead. Obviously the pitch wasn't the best, the heat, it's tough to play in and you have to find a way to win, so I think opportunities like that have been good for us."

"I've been really fortunate as I've known Luke probably since he was about 13 or so now and it's nice to see boys on that journey," Bridge-Wilkinson added. "It's nice to drop in and see the boys here or there but when you are with them for a big chunk of time you sometimes forget how far they have come because you are with them every day.

So now, when they have been away and they come back to you for one game you remember how much of a good player they are."

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