Young stars are testament to Liverpool’s youth policy, says coach

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn are two shining examples of Liverpool’s commitment to youth policy, according to the club’s first-team development coach.

Striker Woodburn, 17, became the Reds’ youngest ever goalscorer when he found the net in the EFL Cup win over Leeds United, in November – his only goal in seven senior appearances.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old right-back Alexander-Arnold made the first of his nine senior Liverpool appearances in the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in October, also in the EFL Cup.

Both players remain firmly in the first-team plans of manager Jurgen Klopp, and coach Pep Lijnders believes the pair are perfectly set for a bright future in the game.

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

“They help prove a lot of modern misconceptions in football wrong: that you have to be a certain age, a certain size,” said Lijnders.

“That you first have to go on loan and so on before you can get into the first team.

“If you see them after each session and how long they stay on the pitch – not just shooting on goal, crossing and heading and doing the nice things – they always challenge each other to become technically and tactically better.

“They are completely different players and personalities, but they define exactly our approach.

“Anfield is screaming out for young unpredictable players, who can open up games and speed up the tempo of the positional play. That’s a wonderful characteristic they both have in common.”