James McConnell makes his first-ever begin for Liverpool as they tackle Norwich within the FA Cup fourth spherical, so who’s Jurgen Klopp‘s newest debutant?
McConnell was the shock title on the teamsheet forward of kickoff in Liverpool vs. Norwich, changing Alexis Mac Allister on the base of the midfield.
• READ: Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs. Norwich with 5 changes
It introduced {the teenager}’s fourth look for the primary workforce, but additionally his first begin, having beforehand come off the bench in opposition to Toulouse, Brentford and Union SG.
So who’s McConnell and what can we anticipate?
Who’s James McConnell?
McConnell arrived at Liverpool from Sunderland following a profitable trial spell in 2019, as one in all three younger arrivals from the Academy of Gentle.
Becoming a member of goalkeeper Luke Hewitson and midfielder Luca Stephenson, he initially took a spot within the U16s earlier than making swift progress.
After debuting for the U18s as an U16 participant in 2020, he moved up by the ranks to finally captain the U21s this season, having already caught the attention of first-team employees.
What’s his fashion of play?
Throughout his early years within the academy, McConnell was extra of an attacking midfielder, offering targets and assists with a penchant for long-range pictures.
However upon his promotion to the primary workforce for pre-season coaching over the summer time, {the teenager} was tasked with adapting to a brand new place as a No. 6.
It matches in with the brand new blueprint for Liverpool’s deepest midfielder, with combativeness required however extra of an emphasis on dynamism, press-resistence and beginning assaults with pinpoint passes.
McConnell has impressed there to this point, along with his means to maintain issues easy and construct tempo in possession clearly admired by Klopp.
What has Jurgen Klopp mentioned?
Following the 4-0 pleasant win over Leicester in pre-season, Klopp hailed his newest academy expertise as a “pleasure to look at”:
“James within the six is only a pleasure to look at.
“The boy by no means performed in that place earlier than, we put him there and he throws his coronary heart on the pitch.”
In the meantime, in October, U21s coach Barry Lewtas praised McConnell’s progress after time spent with the primary workforce:
“He’s exhibiting us plenty of various things to his recreation this 12 months, taking part in as a No. 6, scoring headers.
“It simply goes to point out what he can do.”
What has McConnell mentioned?
Chatting with the membership’s official website in November, McConnell mirrored on his change of place and the way coaching with the senior squad on the AXA is aiding his growth:
“I’m studying each single day, particularly in the event you take a look at the truth that I’m taking part in in a barely totally different place this season.
“I nonetheless again myself taking part in the attacking position however this season I’ve been taking part in within the No.6 deeper position and studying on the job so to talk.
“I’m studying off all of the gamers, studying from gamers like Dominik Szoboszlai, the youthful ones like Curtis and Harvey who’ve given me nice assist and assist.
“Being round these high gamers, you might be solely going to be taught and get higher.”
Hopefully his subsequent step will include a vibrant show in opposition to Norwich.
