Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been delighted with the impact that Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott have made on the senior squad.
A number of youngsters made their competitive debuts against MK Dons in the Carabao Cup third round 2-0 win, as the Reds secured a safe passage into the next round.
Jones picked up the man of the match award on the night, and Elliott himself received plenty of plaudits as he hit the woodwork twice in the game.
“We were all buzzing for Curtis Jones to pick up the MOTM award, particularly knowing how much it will have meant to him being a local lad,” he said in the official programme for the Leicester game, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
“Well-deserved as well – he was brilliant.”
“To see Harvey Elliott play as maturely and as confidently as he did, aged just 16, was tremendous.”
Both Elliott and Jones are expected to return to the under-19s squad for their UEFA Youth League clash with Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday evening as they look to build on their 1-1 draw with Napoli [Liverpool Echo].
OPINION
The fact that the Liverpool squad were all delighted for Jones will give the 18-year-old a massive confidence boost in his development at Anfield. The game against MK Dons highlighted how Jurgen Klopp is willing to give anyone an opportunity in his first-team if they have impressed enough in the youth sides. Both Jones and Elliott were phenomenal in the game, and they will definitely get plenty more opportunities to impress throughout the season. Elliott was one of the best players on the park in the cup clash, and at only 16-years-old, he could even be closing in on becoming a regular feature in the first-team set-up. The academy gives players such as Elliott and Jones the chance to earn consistent minutes, and they will both be using their experience with the first-team as a motivation to kick on and continue excelling in the youth side in all competitions this season.
