Jurgen Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders praises youngster who’s been with first-team

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Jurgen Klopp’s number two Pep Lijnders has suggested youngster Leighton Clarkson has caught the eye, after spending some time with the first-team recently.

A number of the club’s best prospects have been mixing it with the seniors over the international break, and the midfielder has come in for a special mention from the Dutch coach.

In an interview with the club’s official website, Lijnders said: “You see so many incredible processes happening in the rest periods. Leighton Clarkson, who sees with his own eyes the constant runs of Sadio and Mo in behind.

“He has the capacity to play the passes these type of forwards like to receive, he is the type of No.6 we really like, the one who can dictate play, but dictate with direction, who can speed up the tempo of the positional play, the one who has always time on the ball.”

Clarkson, who signed his first professional contract with the club back in July, is a creative midfielder who is an excellent set-piece taker. He is a regular for the club’s U18s and 19s.

TBR’s view

Liverpool fans will be pleased to hear Clarkson being singled out by Lijnders.

The Clitheroe-born starlet is clearly one to watch out for, and if he keeps holding his own with the seniors then perhaps a first-team debut won’t be years off.

To hear Lijnders talking in such a way is bound to give the young man confidence.