Liverpool have enjoyed some remarkable success in the promotion of young players to the first-team recently.
The Reds have been active in scooping up some of the best talent from across the country, doing deals to sign players such as Trey Nyoni, Ben Doak and Bobby Clark.
As well as bringing quality in from the outside, though, Liverpool have also been brilliant at developing players through the academy.
Jurgen Klopp was always keen to give prospects in the underage groups a go in the first-team squad and reaped the rewards of that many times over.
Over time, some of those youngsters have become established players in the senior side. However, former striker Troy Deeney believes that perhaps it has all come too soon for one man in particular.
Troy Deeney shares Jarell Quansah concern
It has been claimed that part of the reason Liverpool chose to hire Arne Slot in the first place was his ability to work with young players.
Slot oversaw a similarly productive youth team at Feyenoord and the hope was that the Dutchman could translate that work to Anfield, too.
So far, the early signs have been very good in that respect. Pre-season saw Slot given the chance to work with plenty of Liverpool’s most promising talents.
Trey Nyoni stood out to Slot but the 17-year-old was far from being the only one to catch the eye.
After an excellent breakthrough season last year, Jarell Quansah continued his development with a very impressive summer. Quansah’s brilliance ensured him a start on the Premier League’s opening day ahead of Ibrahima Konate.
However, things soon turned bad for the 21-year-old. Quansah was taken off at half-time at Portman Road with Slot unhappy with his ability to win duels.
And speaking on the Ben Foster Cycling GK podcast, former Watford striker Deeney has claimed that he has spotted a real lack of urgency in the centre-back’s game.
“He had it a little bit too early, though, in my opinion,” says the pundit. “Remember the game at United last year when he gave it and Fernandes scored straightaway?
“I think he’s a very good player. When I watch him, I see so much 21s football in him, like, play, play, play, play. He hasn’t got the urgency of like, right, bang. And I said it before the season started, if they got rid of Van Dijk, every defender they have got is a number two.”
Will Jarell Quansah play vs Brentford?
It was perhaps a little harsh on Quansah to be treated like Slot’s scapegoat against Ipswich. The academy graduate played no worse than his teammates.
The move felt a little like Slot sending out a warning to some more established members of the squad that if they don’t up their game, they too will be hauled off.
Having said that, Liverpool were noticeably far better with Konate on the pitch in the second-half.
As a result, we’d now be surprised if the Frenchman didn’t return to the line-up for Sunday’s game against Brentford.
Quansah will be back, there’s no doubt about that. But perhaps Saturday – and Deeney’s comments – are a reminder that he is still very much a work in progress. Head up, Jarell.