Inglethorpe on Reds senior squad: “I can see so much of our kids in them”

Liverpool Academy director Alex Inglethorpe says younger Reds players can find inspiration in the success of the first-team squad, some of whom have overcome many hurdles to get where they are today.

Few of Liverpool’s senior squad stars have had an easy journey to the top, with Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk often cited as prime examples of those who’ve overcome a number of obstacles along the way.

And Inglethorpe thinks Liverpool’s Academy players should learn from their senior counterparts and exercise patience in their own path to potential greatness.

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“It’s interesting the point about you have to be world class, and I understand that point,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“But I think the great thing about the Liverpool team when I watch it is you see so many players in there who weren’t necessarily the high-flyers as kids.

“You look at Virgil van Dijk, who had a fairly late rise to prominence. A lot of scouts would have seen him and not really fancied him when he was younger.

“Andy Robertson has had more than his fair share of challenges to overcome, Jordan Henderson as well.

“I’m sure when Bobby Firmino first signed people weren’t quite sure who this player was. So they have had a really challenging route to get to Liverpool.”

The 47-year-old continued: “That’s what I love about our first team because I can see so much of our kids in them.

“They have had to work really hard to get into the first team and to get to Liverpool and stay there.

“They are world class now, but I’m not too sure how many of them would have been seen as child proteges or how many of them would have been seen when they were 15, 16 and 17 years of age that everybody on the planet wanted.

“I think it’s those sort of characteristics which can help you thrive at a club like this.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com