Liverpool have hired a mental health consultant to protect their young players from the trauma of vile online trolling.
The club have recruited top psychiatric therapist Ishbel Straker to hold one-on-one clinics with upcoming stars, helping them to cope with racist abuse, sudden fame and addiction issues.
The move — the first of its kind in the Premier League — has been implemented to guard youngsters who are breaking into the first team from social media vitriol.
It comes after leading players including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane were victims of horrific online trolling last year. Just last month, their captain Jordan Henderson announced his concern that 'nobody really takes player welfare carefully'.
A source said: 'Liverpool care hugely about the mental health of their players but over the last year some of the abuse experienced by the first team has been horrendous.
'The club is very keen to make sure the young players who are coming through, or just breaking into the first team, are prepared for what can come their way online.
'Trolling for some footballers has been as bad as it ever has been in the last 12 months and most young players are locked into social media.
'The new mental health consultant is giving young players the chance to talk about the abuse they get and get bespoke advice on how they can cope with that.' Liverpool is the first club in the Premier League to hire someone like this for their young stars.
Straker, who founded I Straker Consultants in 2000, is working with the club's academy and Under 23 team.
On their website it states the Liverpool-based therapist 'also has a specialist interest in performance enhancement, which supports those who may be struggling with work due to their mental health'.
wuoabdopyz
0
racist abuse lol more critical race theory today i see
20231Creme”
1
Now where are the Liverpool fans?
Jialmnpsyz
1
some of these players need to spend less time on social media and more time training. that is why Messi and CR7 cannot retired from the sports, now a days players have no genuine love for the game.
Players also have life like the rest of people what must they do in their spare time come on should use common sense
Lohit14
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some of these players need to spend less time on social media and more time training. that is why Messi and CR7 cannot retired from the sports, now a days players have no genuine love for the game.
man u fans shouldn't talk about players and social media with Pogba and lingard on ur sude
RichardCfC
0
mate that's clearly Man united players.
No he's right, all players should focus more on football. Without any exceptions.
Scouser8YNWA
1
some of these players need to spend less time on social media and more time training. that is why Messi and CR7 cannot retired from the sports, now a days players have no genuine love for the game.
mate that's clearly Man united players.
Gengarknight
0
some of these players need to spend less time on social media and more time training. that is why Messi and CR7 cannot retired from the sports, now a days players have no genuine love for the game.
fkmadridsukdik
3
this players are worst than a girl on her period ,
Xneymarjr
1
Lmao as they say rule #1 of the internet is don’t read comments