England U-21 defender Jarell Quansah, who established himself in Liverpool’s first team last season, has been hit by a decline in playing time following the birth of manager Arne Slot.
With Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez ahead of him in the pecking order, cup competitions are his main opportunities.
The 21-year-old centre-back is in a difficult position, but he is surrounded by some of the best players in the world. That is not just limited to defenders, but he said he can always rely on his seniors in a team that has some of the best players in the world in each position.
He also has faith in John Heitinga, who joined with coach Arne Slot. The centre-back, who played for Everton as a player and rose through the ranks to become a member of the Dutch national team, is a great help to the young players.
“I can lean on all of the senior players,”
“I am not going to pick out one. I think the lot of them have definitely helped me. Not that I’ve been bad or anything! It’s just about keeping my confidence up and playing to the levels I know I can.”
“I can always lean into [Heitinga]. He is an established centre back with a great career so I can always pick his head. He often comes to me too, maybe I am trying to do stuff by myself but he will come to me and show me clips, help me find a positive mindset for any game I play in.”
“If I take a little bit of their (Liverpool’s other centre-backs’) games, it will put me in a great position. I have the belief I am able to do that as well. As well as their qualities and abilities on the pitch, for me it is off the pitch as well.”
“They keep me hungry and want to keep pushing for whatever it may be. I am happy they are willing to invest time in me as well.”
Liverpool Echo
The 21-year-old defender has always been willing to learn from those around him, but this season has not shown the same vigour as last season and there are signs of hesitation in his play.
This is a crucial period for his development, and whether he can get through it or not will determine whether he can make a significant leap forward in his career. God only knows if he can continue to play at Anfield, but he will certainly step up as a player.