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Klopp heaps praise on Brewster

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19-year-old Rhian Brewster is set to be included in Liverpool’s squad to face Barcelona at Anfield tonight, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.

Brewster has been absent from the Liverpool set-up for over a year following a serious ankle injury, but Klopp is keen to give Brewster an opportunity in the Champions League semi-final outing after his long injury spell.

Brewster was crowned top goal scorer in the U17 World Cup in 2017, after scoring eight goals for England who went on to win the tournament.

Klopp had this to say about the attacker’s return in the Daily Star: “It’s just good so now it’s really nice in a difficult situation that we can give him that spot in the squad and have him there to bring on as a striker. When you’re on the bench, you are an option to play.”

The Reds will be without Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah for the game and will have to overturn a three-goal deficit if they are to have any chance of progressing to the final.

Klopp went on to say, “Rhian has now arrived with us after being heavily injured. Day by day, he has got better and better and he has been in just outstanding shape for the last three or four weeks but the other players were there as well.

“But next season he will be playing 100% and he knows that. I have told him already.”

OPINION

Given that Liverpool trail 3-0, it would take a small miracle for them to turn the Champions League tie around and reach the final. With that in mind, the game could be used to give those on the fringes of the squad an opportunity to test themselves against opponents of the highest level. Brewster is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Reds, and featuring in a game of this magnitude, on the biggest stage, may give him the confidence boost that he will need after returning from a lengthy injury spell. Klopp is a big believer in youth and with Trent Alexander-Arnold rubber stamping his place in the Liverpool squad, Brewster will know that opportunities will arise given that other youngsters have successfully come through. Any amount of minutes will give Rhian Brewster vital and essential experience at the top level and with the circumstances in mind, he could well make his first competitive appearance against the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

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