01 March 2024 , 15:40
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Jurgen Klopp says the thought of overseeing the further development of Liverpool's crop of talented young players isn't making him change his mind about leaving the club at the end of the season.
The Reds have enjoyed a fantastic week for the club's academy, with young stars Conor Bradley, Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Jarell Quansah and Jayden Danns all featuring in the side that beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final despite a host of injuries to senior players.
Even more youngsters then played in the FA Cup fifth round clash at home to Southampton on Wednesday, where 18-year-old Lewis Koumas scored on his first senior appearance and Danns, also 18, came off the bench to score his first two senior goals at the Kop end.
The young players have stepped up at a time when Liverpool have needed them due to injuries to their household names, but Klopp says that he isn't tempted to reverse his decision to stand down at the end of the season because of the promise he sees in them.
“It has nothing to do with (the youngsters),” Klopp said on Friday ahead of Saturday's visit to Nottingham Forest. “If it would be about the people around me, I love my ‘more senior’ players as well.
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Teenage forward Jayden Danns scored twice against Southampton (AFP via Getty Images)“I will miss them as well. Seeing the young boys coming through, it just gives me a very good feeling for the future of the club, which is much more important than anything. I will miss them and I will follow them.
“It’s not about not wanting (to carry on), it’s about what is right. That’s why I do it (leave the club). Not because I don’t like some players and want to leave because of that. Or now there are young players and I like them more and I should stay, it’s not like that either, definitely not.”
Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez are set to return at Nottingham Forest, but Mo Salah remains out (Kieran McManus/REX/Shutterstock)Several of the youngsters are set to be involved in the squad at the City Ground, but Liverpool will be boosted by the return of four senior players to their matchday squad, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez, Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson all in line for returns, although Mo Salah will be sidelined for at least another week.
Klopp added: “Darwin and Dom trained yesterday with the team. We'll see how they react. Wataru and Robbo didn't but there's a plan they join today."
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