Liverpool and England u-21 defender Jarell Quansah says this should be ‘a fun end to the season’ with the three horse title race set to go down to the wire.
Quansah, who will play for Lee Carsley’s Young Lions against Luxembourg at Bolton tonight, is having a breakthrough season at Anfield after making his debut earlier in the campaign. The 21-year-old, who was on loan at League One side Bristol Rovers last season, has featured 25 times for Jurgen Klopp’s side in all four competitions, and his form has been rewarded with an England U21 call-up.
The young defender has every reason to believe he can step up at some stage to the senior side, having watched his contemporaries Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis earn full England caps ahead of this summer’s European Championships.
“There’s been loads of us come through from u-15s level, and I think we drew closer after winning the u-19 Euros together,” Quansah said.
“I think everyone’s used to being one step away. A lot of players have come through the academies and it’s usually one opportunity, one chance and you need to take it. Seeing the likes of Jude, Cole and Rico step up gives you the belief.
“It’s one of the biggest accolades you could achieve, playing for your country and representing your nation in a major competition. There’s a lot of steps I need to take in between that. I need to learn so much and keep improving.”
At club level, Quansah has been given the opportunity to shine under Klopp, and won a Carabao Cup winner’s medal in last month’s final. There could be more to come with Liverpool in a three-horse title race and in the Europa League, and when asked about the season in general, Quansah believes there is no time to switch off ahead of a crucial end to the campaign:
“I’ve been asked this question quite a bit. I found it dead hard to step back because of the Premier League demands of it. You’ve just got to keep going through and put 100% into the end of season and hopefully it will be a memorable one.
“He (Klopp) just left me to my own devices a little bit. I think people can say a little too much to players and can get in their heads, so the way Klopp handled it with me, left it with me, that showed how much he trusted me.
“I think it’s just my love of playing football. I dreamt about doing what I’m doing now. I knew the opportunity was going to come, either now or in the future.
“It should be a fun end to the season hopefully, especially for the neutral. It’s why you want to be a footballer, to be in a title race. It’s my first season at Liverpool and I’m one”.
