Strictly Liverpool

Tag: Jarell Quansah

7 Liverpool Debutants Under Klopp Sold Under Arne Slot

Liverpool are quietly strengthening their squad for the 2025/26 season following a successful first campaign under Slot, which ended in Premier League glory. As part of a mini rebuild, several players have left, while key additions like Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Milos Kerkez have arrived.

Interestingly, many of those making way were once handed their Liverpool debuts by Jürgen Klopp, signaling the gradual close of an era.

Here are seven academy graduates who were handed their Liverpool debuts by Klopp, but have since been sold under Arne Slot.

7 Liverpool Debutants Under Klopp Sold Under Arne Slot

1. Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t just break into Liverpool’s first team; he became the face of their modern success story. Debuting in October 2016, he went on to make over 350 appearances, winning everything from the Champions League to two Premier League titles.

However, the end of his Liverpool story came under Slot. Though he played a pivotal role in the Dutchman’s first season, Alexander-Arnold announced he would leave after his contract expired. Real Madrid swooped in early, paying €10 million to land him ahead of the Club World Cup.

His departure was met with mixed emotions. Klopp, ever the defender of his players, publicly criticised fans who booed the right-back’s decision. “This isn’t us,” he said. “Don’t forget what he’s done for this club.”

2. Jarell Quansah

Quansah made his Liverpool bow in August 2023 following a promising loan at Bristol Rovers. He quickly earned the trust of Klopp, featuring 32 times in the German’s final season.

Yet under Slot, Quansah’s minutes dwindled. Despite the departure of Joel Matip, the new boss preferred the more experienced duo of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. Eventually, Quansah was sold to Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool, however, didn’t completely close the door. A €60 million release clause active from 2027 hints at the club’s continued belief in his long-term potential.

3. Caoimhin Kelleher

Kelleher patiently served as Alisson’s deputy for years, earning plaudits as arguably the best reserve keeper in the Premier League. His performances in cup competitions, especially Liverpool’s League Cup triumphs, made him a cult favourite.

An injury to Alisson during Slot’s first campaign gave Kelleher a chance to shine in the Premier League. And shine he did.

But with Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving from Valencia, Liverpool faced a choice. Rather than stifle Kelleher’s ambitions, they let him join Brentford, where he could finally be a No.1.

4. Nathaniel Phillips

Signed for the youth team in 2016, Phillips’ name is etched in the memories of Liverpool fans for one reason: 2020-21. Amid an injury crisis, he stepped up and helped secure Champions League qualification, even pulling off a memorable Cruyff turn at the San Siro.

But that magical run was never followed by consistent minutes. By the time Slot arrived Phillips had already spent time out on multiple loans. His sixth at Derby County was his last before a permanent move to West Brom.

His Liverpool career may not have been filled with glory, but he certainly left with pride.

5. Sepp van den Berg

Though not an academy product in the traditional sense, Van den Berg arrived as a teenage prospect from PEC Zwolle in 2019 and developed within Liverpool’s youth system.

Klopp gave him early opportunities, but it was away from Anfield at Preston, Schalke, and Mainz that he matured into a solid defender. Slot cashed in early, selling him to Brentford for a reported £25 million. A tidy profit for a player who made just a handful of senior appearances in red.

6. Bobby Clark

Bobby Clark’s standout Liverpool moment came at Wembley. As part of Klopp’s youthful lineup in the 2024 League Cup final, he helped outplay a far more expensive Chelsea squad en route to a dramatic extra-time win.

That spark wasn’t enough to secure a place in Slot’s plans. The 20-year-old linked up with former assistant Pep Lijnders at Red Bull Salzburg, where he’s continued his development. With Lijnders now gone, Clark could be on the move again. Southampton are rumoured to be preparing a £10 million bid.

7. Harvey Blair

Harvey Blair’s first-team journey was brief, a 55-minute outing in the League Cup back in 2021. But those who watched the academy closely were well aware of his potential at U18 level.

Still, Blair wasn’t part of the new vision at Anfield. Slot moved him on to Portsmouth in the Championship, where he’s looking to carve out a career of his own. For Liverpool, it was a low-risk, clean break.

July 4, 2025
Jarell Quansah completes £30m move to Bayer Leverkusen

Jarell Quansah has completed a permanent move to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth up to £35m.

The 22-year-old centre-back impressed for England at the recent Under-21 Euros but struggled for minutes at Liverpool last season.

He made 13 appearances in all competitions, including just four Premier League starts, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté forming the preferred partnership under Arne Slot.

Liverpool will receive £30m guaranteed from Leverkusen, with a further £5m in potential add-ons. Despite letting him go, the Reds see Quansah as a player with big potential and have inserted a buy-back clause into the agreement.

The transfer is the third deal between the two clubs this summer. Liverpool have already signed Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen, with Wirtz becoming the most expensive signing in the club’s history.

Quansah only signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool in October, but the club have now decided to cash in, with plans to strengthen the defence.

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi is one of the names on Liverpool’s radar. The 24-year-old has just one year left on his deal, but Palace are still asking for £65m. That price would need to come down for Liverpool to make a move.

July 2, 2025
Jamie Carragher ‘Disappointed’ with Liverpool Star vs Brighton

Jamie Carragher has questioned Ibrahima Konaté’s leadership qualities following Liverpool’s 3-2 loss to Brighton on Monday night.

The Reds, already crowned Premier League champions, were without Virgil van Dijk at the back, and it showed. Arne Slot’s side looked uncharacteristically shaky in defence, conceding twice in the second half after leading 2-1 at the break.

Konaté, the senior figure in a rotated back line, was expected to step up in Van Dijk’s absence. But Carragher believes the Frenchman fell short, especially when Liverpool needed composure and structure at the back.

“I was a bit disappointed with Konate tonight,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “Even for the second goal, Konate was flying out of position, the ball went over his head.

“I’ve always had this feeling that all the centre-backs that have played alongside Virgil van Dijk, I’ve always wanted to see them on their own. I haven’t because I want van Dijk to play every week, but I’ve almost thought playing alongside one of the best centre-backs we have ever seen in the Premier League, I’d love to see them on their own, and I want a little bit more from them.

“We always make mistakes, but that leadership. I used to say it about Joe Gomez, I said it about Matip and now Konate. It’d be really interesting to see without Virgil van Dijk for 10-15 games to be the leader of the back four, organise people around them and make people around them do better — and that was lacking in the second half.”

With Van Dijk turning 34 this summer and questions over Konaté’s long-term role, the pressure is mounting on the French international to show he can be a reliable pillar in Liverpool’s defence moving forward.

As attention shifts to Sunday’s title party at Anfield, Slot will be keen to see his side tighten up defensively even in celebration, with bigger challenges ahead next season.

May 20, 2025
Trent Alexander-Arnold Left Out of England Squad

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of England’s latest squad after suffering an ankle injury in Liverpool’s midweek match against PSG.

Although initial scans indicate the injury is not severe, the right-back is expected to miss a significant period, including the Carabao Cup final this weekend and England’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia later this month.

In his absence, Liverpool teammates Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones have been called up by new England head coach Thomas Tuchel. Quansah, yet to make his senior debut, earns his first call-up after being on standby for the Euros and featuring on the bench during England’s November fixtures. Jones, who scored on his debut in a 3-0 win over Greece last year, retains his place in the squad.

The squad also sees the return of Marcus Rashford, who has regained form after a January loan move to Aston Villa, and Liverpool’s former Captain, Jordan Henderson, who hasn’t featured for England since March 2024. Tuchel’s selection reflects a blend of youth and experience as England prepares for crucial qualifiers.

Full England Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Marc Guéhi, Levi Colwill, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, Dan Burn, Kyle Walker, Tino Livramento, Miles Lewis-Skelly, Reece James
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Curtis Jones, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Jordan Henderson, Eberechi Eze
Forwards: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Dominic Solanke

March 14, 2025
Explained: Why Liverpool Made 6 Subs Against Southampton

Liverpool’s 3-1 comeback win over Southampton at Anfield on Saturday saw the Reds make six substitutions, one more than the usual five allowed in Premier League matches.

Here is why Liverpool made 6 subs against Southampton

The reason lies in the concussion protocols that came into play during the game. The rule allows for an additional substitution when a player is replaced due to a suspected concussion. This happened in the first half when Southampton defender Jan Bednarek was forced off after a clash of heads with a teammate.

His substitution was made under the league’s official concussion protocol, which prioritizes player safety. According to Premier League rules, when one team makes a substitution due to a concussion, the opposing team is also granted an extra substitution to maintain fairness.

Liverpool had already used their standard five substitutions by the 90th minute. At halftime, manager Arne Slot made a triple change, bringing on Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister, and Harvey Elliott.

Later in the second half, Diogo Jota and Wataru Endo were introduced, taking the tally to five. However, the concussion protocol allowed the Reds to make a sixth change, with young defender Jarell Quansah replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the final moments.

The situation even caught Mohamed Salah by surprise. As Liverpool staff prepared to bring on Quansah, Salah tried to stop them, fearing the team could be penalized for exceeding the substitution limit. The referee quickly clarified that the extra change was permitted due to the earlier concussion substitution.

Slot, serving the second game of his touchline ban, was aware of the rule and took full advantage. His triple change at halftime proved pivotal, with Mac Allister and Elliott injecting energy into a previously flat midfield.

Meanwhile, Southampton made five additional substitutions after Bednarek’s withdrawal, but their changes had little impact. Substitute Yukinari Sugawara conceded the penalty that allowed Salah to score his second goal of the game.

March 9, 2025
Liverpool 2-1 Lille: Player ratings as Reds secure UCL last 16 spot

Liverpool continue their relentless march towards success, this time sealing a place in the Champions League knockout rounds with a hard-fought victory over Lille at Anfield. Despite not playing at their best, Arne Slot’s side still managed to find a way to win, thanks to Mohamed Salah’s historic 50th European goal, combined with Harvey Elliott’s crucial deflected strike.

The Egyptian forward may have started the game sluggishly, but as he so often does, Salah found a way to make an impact. When Lille lost possession in midfield, Curtis Jones threaded a precise through ball into the path of Salah, who made no mistake, curling his shot past keeper Lucas Chevalier. It was another masterclass in composure from the Egyptian, who once again proved why he is one of Liverpool’s all-time greats.

Lille’s task became even tougher when Aissa Mandi received a second yellow card, reducing the visitors to 10 men. However, Bruno Génésio’s men didn’t go down without a fight. Star striker Jonathan David managed to level the score in the 62nd minute, burying a rebound after Liverpool failed to clear their lines. But the Reds, undeterred, kept pressing and found the breakthrough once again thanks to a wicked deflection off Harvey Elliott’s shot, ensuring all three points.

Below, Strictly Liverpool rates Liverpool players performance vs Lille

Liverpool 2-1 Lille: Player Ratings

GK – Alisson Becker – 6/10
The Brazilian shot-stopper had little to do in the first half, as Lille failed to test him at all. Did make a couple of simple claims but wasn’t heavily involved.

RB – Conor Bradley – 6/10
Struggled to find his defensive footing early on, often caught out of position while trying to press forward. Improved in the second half, but lacked accuracy in his finishing.

CB – Jarell Quansah – 7/10
Dominated in aerial battles and made several key clearances. Kept things tidy and played safe passes to maintain control at the back.

CB – Virgil van Dijk – 6/10
Received plenty of the ball, but Lille did well to neutralize him, limiting his influence in the game.

LB – Konstantinos Tsimikas – 6/10
Showed composure in building attacks, especially with long balls into the attacking third. Unfortunately, was at fault for Lille’s equalizer after failing to clear his lines effectively.

CM – Ryan Gravenberch – 5/10
Struggled to get into the game, managing only a few touches. Subbed off at half-time for a tactical change.

CM – Curtis Jones – 6.5/10
Provided the assist for Salah’s opener, and showed glimpses of his playmaking abilities in midfield. Was withdrawn at halftime due to a minor knee injury.

CM – Dominik Szoboszlai – 6/10
Made intelligent runs into space and sought to break Lille’s defensive shape, but his passing and ball retention let him down at times.

RW – Mohamed Salah – 8/10
Bright from the start, Salah delivered when it mattered most. Scored his 50th European goal with great composure and was Liverpool’s brightest spark.

ST – Darwin Nunez – 6.5/10
Pressed high and showed good movement, constantly working to win back possession. His efforts contributed to the team’s intensity in attack.

LW – Luis Diaz – 6/10
Put in a solid shift defensively but struggled to create meaningful chances in the final third. Didn’t have much to work with in attack.

Sub – Alexis Mac Allister – 7/10
Came on to stabilize Liverpool’s midfield. His strong presence in possession and solid defensive work helped Liverpool regain control.

Sub – Harvey Elliott – 7/10
Brought energy and flair in the second half. His shot deflected off a Lille defender to put Liverpool back in front, securing the win.

Sub – Wataru Endo – 6.5/10
Showed calmness in the holding role, helping Liverpool control the tempo and neutralize Lille’s threat.

Sub – Federico Chiesa – 6/10
Looked lively in his brief cameo, cutting inside on his favored right foot and forcing a good save from the keeper.

Sub – Trent Alexander-Arnold – N/A
Only played a brief five-minute cameo at the end of the game.

With this victory, Liverpool now sit just one point away from securing top spot in their Champions League group phase, underlining their dominance both in Europe and domestically.

January 21, 2025
Arne Slot Provides Positive Update on Dominik Szoboszlai and Jarell Quansah

Liverpool’s recent fixture congestion has been marred by injury and illness, but manager Arne Slot remains hopeful heading into their upcoming FA Cup match against Accrington Stanley. After struggling with key absences, Slot provided a positive update on Dominik Szoboszlai and Jarell Quansah ahead of Saturday’s early kickoff.

Liverpool’s midfield has felt the absence of Szoboszlai during their last two crucial fixtures. Slot has had to rely on a consistent trio of players in the Hungarian’s absence, including during the recent encounters with Manchester United and Tottenham. Szoboszlai’s absence was attributed to illness, which also disrupted Quansah’s participation early in the League Cup defeat at Spurs earlier this week. However, Slot delivered encouraging news on both players ahead of the weekend.

Speaking on Friday, Slot said, “Dom trained with the U21s yesterday. Jarell, like I said, was a bit ill last week, and as a result of that, I had to take him off, but I’m expecting him to be available tomorrow [Saturday].”

The news comes as a relief to Liverpool fans, with both players set to rejoin the first team. Ideally, Szoboszlai would have resumed full training with the senior squad earlier, but travel disruptions following Wednesday’s clash in north London—forced by icy fog—meant their session had to be canceled. Liverpool’s return journey to Merseyside was delayed, with the squad only arriving back in the early hours of Thursday morning, limiting their preparation time to a single session on Friday.

Slot’s tactical approach for the FA Cup match will undoubtedly reflect the squad’s limited preparation time. He has signaled plans to rotate his side, providing opportunities for several fringe players to showcase their talents. Speaking to reporters, Slot explained, “Every game is an opportunity for them to have a chance to play, and this one as well. We know we can use these players in every single game, and also the one we have on Saturday.”

Several squad members are likely to get a chance to feature, including goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, defender Jarell Quansah, midfielders Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo, along with Federico Chiesa. Slot could also introduce James McConnell and Jayden Danns into the mix, giving them valuable experience in competitive fixtures.

Additionally, there’s a strong possibility that Szoboszlai might start in midfield. The Hungarian midfielder, who has been sidelined since Liverpool’s trip to Tottenham prior to the Christmas break, needs to regain his match rhythm. Slot recognizes this opportunity for Szoboszlai to make an impact, stating, “He needs to rediscover his rhythm having not started a game since the Premier League trip to Tottenham prior to Christmas.”

Liverpool will aim to navigate this FA Cup tie against League Two side Accrington Stanley with a squad that blends experience and youthful energy. Slot’s choices will be crucial in ensuring the squad remains competitive without compromising their long-term goals, and the return of Szoboszlai and Quansah adds a much-needed boost as the Reds continue their pursuit of success on multiple fronts.

January 10, 2025
Joe Gomez Provides Injury Update After Early Exit Against West Ham

Liverpool enjoyed a dominant 5-0 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday, but the win was marred by an injury to center-back Joe Gomez. Despite the Reds’ commanding first-half performance, which saw them score three goals, Gomez was forced off in the first half with a hamstring issue, and replaced by Jarell Quansah.

After the match, manager Arne Slot provided a concerning update on Gomez’s condition, confirming that the 27-year-old could be sidelined for “a while.” While Gomez has battled various injury issues throughout his Liverpool career, this hamstring strain seems to be another setback. However, journalist Paul Gorst shared a more positive note from Gomez, who spoke to reporters in the mixed zone after the game.

“Joe Gomez confirms in the mixed zone he’s suffered a hamstring injury,” Gorst wrote on X. “Didn’t seem too despondent but facing a spell on the sidelines now. Now set for a scan to discover the severity of the issue.”

Gomez has endured a tough injury history, particularly with knee problems, but this recent hamstring issue doesn’t seem to be as serious. However, with Ibrahima Konate also unavailable, Liverpool’s defensive depth has taken a hit. The hope is that Konate will return in time for the upcoming match against Manchester United, but given his extended absence, it remains uncertain whether he’ll be match-ready.

In the meantime, Jarell Quansah is set to play a bigger role. With both Gomez and Konate sidelined, Quansah will likely be called upon to step up, having shown his quality when substituted into the West Ham match. He will be looking to make a strong impression in what will be a crucial game for Liverpool next week.

December 30, 2024