Jurgen Klopp backs Liverpool young guns to 'make big steps' with senior side next season

'They can make big steps because they are a little bit settled in a good way'

Trent Alexander-Arnold made 12 senior appearances for Liverpool last season (Getty)

Jurgen Klopp has backed Liverpool’s academy products to “make big steps” with the club’s senior side next season after breaking through into the starting XI in the 2016/17 campaign.

The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn were both called upon by Klopp last season and received high praise for their performances.

Woodburn notably became Liverpool’s youngster ever goalscrorer after netting against Leeds in the EFL Cup in what was his second professional appearance for the club.

And speaking to Liverpool’s official website, Klopp has backed the youngsters to make their mark once the new season gets underway.

“Usually you always want to take the next step from one year to the next year,” he said.

“Young players are one year older, that doesn't make the biggest difference but being one year longer involved in the first team.

“They can make big steps because they are a little bit settled in a good way. They feel not as excited anymore about each day in training, thinking 'Oh my god, that's Adam Lallana next to me' and things like this. That can be a big difference.”

With the added consideration of Champions League football, and the increase in matches that this brings, youngsters such as Alexander-Arnold and Woodburn can expect to play a more prominent role for the senior side as Klopp attempts to manage the demands of a hectic fixture schedule.

The Anfield boss admitted that a bigger squad is needed if Liverpool are to effectively prepare for European football and that, tactically, he will need to consider introducing a number of new formations if his squad are to compete on all fronts.

“Tactically-wise, getting more flexible – depending who is there and when – and introducing different systems,” he continued.

“[In 2015-16], we played most of the time kind of 4-2-3-1, [in 2016-17] most of the time 4-3-3 or 4-5-1. In our opinion, it fitted best to the players we had.

“I'm not sure which way we have to play next year, there will be a few different ones. And we'll prepare for European football also, so we need a bigger squad of course. We'll be good. I'm looking forward to it.”