Liverpool U23s play their opening game of 2018-19 when they travel to Brighton and Hove Albion tonight, in front of the live LFCTV cameras (kick-off 7pm BST), and Neil Critchley’s team-talk has been made a lot easier.
Klopp gave minutes to the likes of Curtis Jones, Rafael Camacho and Nathaniel Phillips, plus young goalkeepers Kamil Grabara and Caoimhin Kelleher, as the senior side played nine pre-season matches in the past six weeks.
George Johnston also made an appearance in Tuesday’s Anfield friendly with Torino, as the latest crop of Academy hopefuls aim to follow in the footsteps of former U18s captain Trent Alexander-Arnold.
But such opportunities are only the start for those young players, explained Critchley in an extended interview with Liverpoolfc.com.
The U23s boss also discussed this evening’s game at Brighton, his ambitions for the new season and more…
On his feelings ahead of the start of a new season…
It’s good to be back. We have enjoyed a very good pre-season, which is an enjoyable time of the year for me to see how the new boys integrate into the group, to see the boys return after the close season and see what kind of condition they are in. I’ve been delighted with how the pre-season has gone and it’s all systems go and ready for our first game.
On the pre-season training camp in Hungary…
We went to Hungary last season and because that experience was so good, we decided to go back. A lot of work goes into organising that trip and our head of education and welfare, Phil Roscoe, does an amazing job sorting that for us. It was great to have the U18s and U23s together under one roof for nine to 10 days. It was a fantastic working environment and we managed to get a lot of good work done on the training pitch and in the classroom with work off the field as well. It was good to share ideas with staff and players and was a really enjoyable part of the pre-season.
On seeing Klopp hand youngsters first-team opportunities during pre-season…
By all accounts they have equipped themselves really well. We’ve managed to watch most of, if not all of the games. Looking in from afar, the boys have got some credit from the players and the staff and long may that continue. But it’s only the start for them. They have got a lot to do, a lot of things to develop, but I think they have improved and benefited from the experience. Hopefully they have given the manager something to think about in the future.
On being at Anfield in midweek for the Torino friendly and seeing the likes of Phillips, Jones, Camacho and Johnston get minutes…
That was a special night. To see Nat start was a great moment for him and his family. From where he has come from, to be involved in any game at Anfield for the first team is a fantastic occasion for him. It is a testament to the type of boy and character he is. I thought Nat, and Curtis when he came on at half-time, showed a real maturity in his play. I would say they looked like first-team players, which is a big compliment to them, but it’s also a compliment to the players around them and the environment the manager creates with all the first-team players. The spirit they have amongst them is first-class and if you are not the right type of person you won’t fit into that. That is what we are trying to create here at the Academy. Let’s not forget Trent as well, who looks like a senior player and it was great to see him back playing. It was also special for young George to get a little cameo at the end, which was a big moment for him in front of his dad and granddad who were in the crowd. That was a lovely moment for a boy who has been at the Academy for so long to get some minutes at the end, and that will give him such a big lift and a confidence booster for the season ahead.
On the progress of his former U18s captain Alexander-Arnold, who played in the Champions League final for Liverpool and started a game in the World Cup finals for England…
It was crazy really, almost like a film! To see Trent get into the England squad and be part of the group that had a successful World Cup and to get a start and play well I thought against Belgium, it was quite emotional to see him playing, I have to say. It was fantastic for him and I know how much it meant to his family as well. You just know with Trent that he is hungry for more. He wants more. This season he will be wanting to be part of a successful Liverpool first team and we all want as many of our Academy players to be the next Trent now, if you like.
On why seeing youngsters getting first-team chances makes his team-talk for the U23s easy…
Actions speak louder than words. I don’t really have to say much, it’s evident and it’s right in front of their face. They can see these players getting opportunities, they are their mates and lads they have grown up with at the Academy. They should look at it and think to themselves if they get an opportunity: ‘That could be me one day.’ It ignites the fire within and, you know, the Academy is there for a reason and it gives great motivation, not that we need any, and gives a real sense of purpose to your job and that is credit to our manager. He loves working with the younger players and loves developing them. We hope we can give him more players and the right type of person, which is really important, as they need to have the right character.
On the 2-2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain last Friday being the perfect build-up to the new season…
It was a top-level game, a really good game in probably the hottest conditions of football I have ever witnessed! It was an extremely hot day and we gave a really good account of ourselves. On the balance of play we deserved to win the game but hopefully that experience will serve us in good stead for the new season and Brighton on Friday night.
On Friday night’s Premier League 2 opener away at Brighton and Hove Albion…
We are really looking forward to it. We’ve had some good tests in pre-season so I think we are ready for the start of the season. We are pretty much injury-free, which is a real bonus and not many players have missed many days of pre-season, which is great credit to the staff I have around me and the programme they have in place. We are expecting a tough test down at Brighton. They got promoted last season so this is their first home game and I’m sure they will be excited at playing against us. We are looking forward to it, we’ve got to be ready and try and pick up some points.
On the hopes and expectations as he starts his second season as U23s manager…
We just want to see the boys develop. I know that can be a little bit subjective at times but we are trying to create habits that these boys will have for the rest of their careers, so we are driving the standards every day in terms of how they behave, how they train. That is not just on the pitch, it’s everything off it as well. We want to make sure that if they get an audition at Melwood then they don’t fail it, and if they get the experience to go out on loan then they are ready for it. In terms of the Premier League 2 title, I think we could have won it last year. If the team had been pretty much the same throughout the whole of the season then we would have won it, but I wouldn’t have slept at night knowing that some of the decisions we had taken would have been possibly for my benefit or the fact we could have won the Premier League 2 title. That becomes second to what is right for the players. I’m fortunate that I work in an environment that Alex [Inglethorpe] creates that I’m not under immense pressure for results. I am under immense pressure for doing the right things by the boys all of the time and I’m happy to work under that type of pressure.
On the challenge of managing a constantly-changing XI in every game…
That can be difficult in terms of picking the team and the preparation going into the game, but we don’t work too much around concentrating on the games and the opposition. We basically concentrate on ourselves and the principles of play we want to embed into our players and improving individuals – what do they need to do to get better? We believe in our process and we follow that every day. If we do that well enough then the results, as well as having some good players to work with, can hopefully go hand in hand.
On the newcomer to the squad, midfielder Isaac Christie-Davies, who played a few games for the U23s last season…
We are delighted that Isaac is with us. He had offers to go elsewhere but when he came here I think he enjoyed the experience of being here, we enjoyed having him, and I’m delighted he has chosen to take the next step of his career with Liverpool. I think we can provide a good platform for him and an opportunity to play regular games and he will benefit from that. If he does then I’m quite excited about the potential that he has.
Watch Brighton v Liverpool U23s live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO on Friday night, with our coverage starting at 6.30pm BST. Click here to find out more.