Pep Lijnders has revealed the unlikely winner of 'the most spectacular goal award' as youth beat experience in Liverpool's pre-season training tournament.
The Reds are currently in the midst of a pre-season training camp in Austria as they ramp up preparations for the new season.
Tuesday night saw Jurgen Klopp's side draw 1-1 with Wacker Innsbruck and VfB Stuttgart in their 30-minute pre-season mini game programme as a host of fresh faces featured.
Ten academy youngsters were named in Liverpool's 34-man training squad ahead of the Reds' trip to Austria and it seems the starlets are impressing under the alps.
In his latest training camp diary, Lijnders explained that the 'young' side - led by Trent Alexander-Arnold - were victorious in the squad's finishing tournament on Wednesday.
However, while most would expect the most 'spectacular' goal to come from one of Liverpool's established elite, it actually came from a bench regular.
Lijnders told Liverpoolfc.com : "During Wednesday morning’s session, the volley of Kostas smashing it in with his left foot probably won the most spectacular goal award.
"Sadio also scored one with his left foot from an impossible angle, so not sure who I would give the most spectacular goal award to.
"The young team won the finishing tournament; Trent was using his shooting skills to lead them to victory.
"I told him after the games on Tuesday that in the U16s he scored so many from a big, big distance.
"Maybe he took that on board, or it’s just the competition between old and young… probably the latter, haha!
"The young team showed that every way into the goal is the right way. The ugly ones count the most!"
Despite Tsimikas and Mane vying for the best goal title, it was Caoimhin Kelleher who stood out for the assistant manager.
"But, to be honest, the player of the tournament was Kelleher," he said.
"His shot stopping and speed reactions were just insane. It shows that a goalkeeper can win you tournaments.
"There was some swearing from the older players towards him!
"Despite Kelleher, who defended for the young team, the old, older and oldest players scored together 28 goals in total and that says a lot about the young team’s finishing skills and drive to win."
Lijnders also welcomed the return of Diogo Jota from his summer break after international duty for Portugal at Euro 2020.
The Dutchman hailed Jota as a 'pressing monster' as he joined the squad in Salzburg.
"Diogo just shook me ‘awake’ saying hello," he said.
"It’s great to see him – fresh, fit and ready. Our pressing monster just arrived!"
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