I was not ready to make my Liverpool debut but everything changed in pre-season

Jarell Quansah has admitted he wasn’t ready to make his Liverpool debut before Jurgen Klopp handed him his senior breakthrough this season.

The 20-year-old has impressed for the Reds so far this year, making six appearances to date since being handed his debut as a substitute away at Newcastle United back in August. Meanwhile, he could make his fourth start for the club away at AFC Bournemouth in the League Cup on Wednesday night, having claimed an assist in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the third round.

Quansah had been in first team matchday squads before this season though, with Klopp naming on the bench for a Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur in December 2021, as well as League Cup clashes with Leicester City and Derby County respectively in the past two seasons.

But now handed his senior breakthrough at Anfield following a successful half-season loan stint with League One side Bristol Rovers last season, the centre-back believes he wasn’t previously at the level required to play for the first team, with his patience now paying off.

Mohamed Salah left in tears at half-time after being 'destroyed' by manager who 'took no prisoners'

John Terry admits having regrets over the way he treated Mohamed Salah when Liverpool star was at Chelsea

“At that period you think to yourself you’re ready, but looking back, I was nowhere near where I needed to be,” he said. “So if I would have got on then it maybe would have been a different story.

“That’s just speaking from (that) I think I’ve matured over the last couple of years. So, sitting on the bench then was definitely an opportunity to just take it in, soak everything in.

“I was on the bench for Spurs away and obviously that stadium, when it gets loud