Rhys Williams has opened up on his surprise after learning he would be making his Premier League debut for Liverpool.
The 20-year-old defender was asked to deputise for an injured Joel Matip back in December against Tottenham for what was, at the time, a top-of-the-table clash.
Williams was named alongside Fabinho at the back and helped the Reds to a 2-1 win - which remains their most recent victory at Anfield.
The Preston-born centre-back was initially meant to be part of the substitutes' bench before he was drafted in at short notice because of a back problem for Matip.
Speaking to UMM, Williams explained how he found out that he would be making his Premier League debut just hours before kick-off on December 16.
"I was nervous because I wasn't starting at first, I was on the bench," Williams said. "And then Joel Matip was meant to play.
"He had a problem with his back, so the boss and the first-team coach come to me and said 'be ready because you are starting, Joel has failed his fitness test.'
"So that was say five or six hours before training and I had to get my head together because that was my first game in the Premier League with Kane and Son up top.
"I was nervous but the boys helped me through it."
Williams also detailed the last message he received from his manager, Jurgen Klopp, and how the succinct nature of the text left him "scared".
He added: "I'd probably say the captain or maybe Virg [is the most active in the WhatsApp group chat].
"Obviously [Van Dijk] has not been playing with his injury, so before every game he is wishing all the boys good luck and stuff like that.
"And the skipper is the one who is always replaying first.
"There was one [message] recently [from Klopp] - 'can you come and see me please.'
"I was scared!
"But it was just to discuss some stuff that I could do better in games, so it was nothing to be worried about. But I was nervous."
