What Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told Jarell Quansah ahead of shock senior debut
Jarell Quansah has revealed what he was told by Jurgen Klopp seconds before he was thrown on for a shock senior Liverpool debut at Newcastle United.
The 20-year-old centre-back, who spent the second half of last season on loan at League One side Bristol Rovers, was introduced in place of Joel Matip with 13 minutes remaining on a dramatic Sunday afternoon in the North East.
The Reds at that point were 1-0 down and had seen captain Virgil van Dijk sent off after less than half-an-hour, only for a late double from substitute Darwin Nunez - introduced at the same time as Quansah - to earn an unlikely 2-1 triumph for Klopp's side.
Quansah, at the Liverpool Academy since the age of five, has previously been an unused substitute three times for the first team and featured in every game during pre-season, having earlier in the summer represented England in the U20 World Cup in Argentina.
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And as he prepared on the touchline for his unexpected debut on Sunday, the centre-back was given a simple message by Klopp.
"The manager said that I am ready for it, and I felt ready," he said. "As ready as you can be in this scenario - you don't expect to make your debut with 10 men away from home at St James' Park when 1-0 down.
"I'm normally cool anyway but it's easier when something is sprung on you and you have the adrenaline running through your veins."
Asked if he now wants more first-team football, Quansah added: "100%! It's what dreams are made of. It's a cliche but so true. I'm ready for whatever comes."
The defender also revealed
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