Jurgen Klopp is eager to see more homegrown players go on to represent Liverpool and follow in the footsteps of the likes of local legends Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
With West Derby's Trent Alexander-Arnold having already established himself as the club's first-choice right-back last season, Curtis Jones was the latest Liverpool-born product to impress during pre-season.
The 17-year-old, a versatile midfielder who signed his first professional contract in February, featured in domestic friendlies against Tranmere, Bury and Blackburn before being included in Klopp's travelling squad to head to the United States.
Once across the Atlantic, he started International Champions Cup matches against Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City before replacing Alberto Moreno for the final 25 minutes of a 4-1 drubbing of rivals Manchester United in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
It has been a swift rise to prominence for Jones, who trained with Liverpool's first team last season and was an unused substitute for the goalless Merseyside derby draw with Everton at Goodison Park in April.
Klopp is evidently delighted with the impact made by local talents such as Alexander-Arnold and Jones and wants to see more Scousers make the grade.
'I love it, I love it!' he told Goal. 'It's important for this club.
'If you have the chance, then you should do it. How many people live in Liverpool? 500,000? Iceland has 330,000, I think, so Liverpool should have enough people to create our own team!
'But of course, the more the better. With Stevie and Carra, it was great to have those kind of boys come through, really cool.
'We will see with Curtis, there is still a long way to go but the first signs are really positive. He's a good player, he can be very good, we will see.
'It's always this little plus if they come from Liverpool. If I have two players, same quality, but one speaks proper English and the other one speaks Scouse, the Scouser is in! That's why we are Liverpool.'
Sescdk
0
Good luck Liverpool
EmmanuelAgbenla
1
The three players from the academy which are to be in the first team this season such as camacho,Jones ,Phillips this three players are exceptionally good
Gerald3375
1
You guys all go about ranting about the amount kloop spent this summer How much have been spent by other top coaches since 14/15
Gerald3375
0
You guys all go about ranting about the amount kloop spent this summer How much have have been spent by other top coaches since 14/15
shah2468
1
that is why teams don't dominate for long anymore because we are in the era of all-star teams.pep brings youth through even though he has spent a lot,he did it to overhaul his ageing squad of players like sagna,nasri,clichy,yaya,kolarov,hart,fernando,zabaleta,navas etc who were 30+ to bring in young players like sane,Mendy, laporte,stones,jesus,bernado,gundogan,ederson etc all in their 20s......so i believe he will bring in youths when the team is settled like he did at barca with the likes of busquet,pedro,cuenca,thiago etc.And he doesn't just bring in youth but talented youth.We can see that already with diaz,foden,garcia etc.If big clubs work that way then they will sustain their success overtime and not just doing hiring and firing of coaches every 3 years.
Vosabdimnt
5
never compare klopp with mou,kloop is in another level where Jose will never be
Waaklosyz
0
why are u all hypocrites,mourinhos rant is to the board not about the youth players,he is going to play the good ones, klopp has spent almost two hundred million pounds this summer,with the exception of Trent who has he promoted?mourinho has given mctominay chance,also given rashford a lot of playing time,tahith chong is coming up.
he was forced to do that after he wanted to sell the young stars
yohcelstu
1
why are u all hypocrites,mourinhos rant is to the board not about the youth players,he is going to play the good ones, klopp has spent almost two hundred million pounds this summer,with the exception of Trent who has he promoted?mourinho has given mctominay chance,also given rashford a lot of playing time,tahith chong is coming up.
naazanfield
1
say that to mourinho
Tannonz
1
Yeah Klopp promotes from within the academy, looks to youngsters as the present and the future instead of buying big names and hope they work out.
Shawnsilva
0
Perfect manager for this team, this club and the city. Love him.
Agreed
bewcnp
2
Klopp is so classy compare to Mourinho.
Badshahking
0
Liverpool need Philippe Coutinho replacement
we already replace coutinho with Naby keita
Funearl
1
That's cuz they already got one
badminton
1
The team should always be looking to improve itself
headache
0
Getting young man was much more important than anything
kamaai
1
Liverpool need Philippe Coutinho replacement
ointment
3
Perfect manager for this team, this club and the city. Love him.
Justinbra
0
We are not unbeatable, we are not the best team in the world but we have a specific style of play which makes us a really good side.
izzuet
0
This is class from Jurgen Klopp😂
offdream
0
Best hugger in the league
Kimjoyes
0
Please sign Fellaini
zusamman
0
Cheque book manager.
Charleses
0
This was great, Nice one mate
Spiketues
0
Any news on when Keïta is back in training?
Runningman
0
Love this quote: “How many people live in Liverpool? 500,000? Iceland has 330,000, I think, so Liverpool should have enough people to create our own team!”
Matthewer
5
Guardiola: 🗣 “I have enjoyed 2 weeks with these guys. I want to say thank you to them”. Klopp: 🗣 “All the young boys are in good shape. What a pre season they played”. Mourinho: 🗣 “Not my squad. Do you want Alexis to be happy with the players around him?”