20 July 2023 , 06:00
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When it comes to iconic figures at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp is already assured of his place in Anfield folklore.
The popular German coach has reinvigorated a club which was on its knees when he arrived seven-and-a-half years ago by guiding the Reds to Champions League glory and ending an agonising 30-year domestic title drought.
Liverpool have born fruit in ways other than trophies, too. Klopp has nurtured some top young talent during his reign on Merseyside including the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and, more recently, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic to name just a few.
But unfortunately, not every youngster has been able to live the dream under Klopp; including former Reds academy graduate Connor Randall.
Randall, 27, spent almost two decades at the club after joining the Reds as a youngster but made just eight senior appearances before leaving for good in 2019.
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His final game in a Reds shirt, though, came in January 2017 during Liverpool's shock FA Cup fourth-round defeat against Wolves. Trailing 2-0 at the break, Randall was hooked off at half-time - leaving him utterly heartbroken.
He told the Football Journeys Podcast back in December 2020: “I can remember it clear as day, going into the changing room and getting taken off. I just stood in the shower, I think the game was on in the changes on the telly and I felt ashamed.
“I felt embarrassed, I felt like [I was] letting everyone down and things like that. All my mates who’d come to watch me, a few of my mates, my family, they were upstairs and obviously you [usually] go and speak to them and whatever.
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“I remember just going straight to the car. I was sat in the back of the car, putting my hood up and hiding. Not that that makes any difference, but at the time that’s the way I felt.
“I just wanted to go home, get in the house and stay in the house. I can remember it clearly that night. My sister, my little nephew and that came round and when they left I just went up to bed and tried to go to sleep, sort of just shut off from everything.
“If I’m being honest I did find it tough. Not just football, I probably took it with me outside of football as well. The biggest emotion is being half-ashamed, even going out, you don’t want to go places and for people to see you and go ‘that s*** player’ or whatever."
Despite that disappointment, Randall has bounced back and forged a new path away from his boyhood club.
Since leaving Anfield, Randall has found a new home in Scotland with SPL outfit Ross County. The full-back may have struggled for action on Merseyside, but he's established himself as a regular north of the border.
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