Liverpool 2 – 0 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise – Man of the Match
Jarell Quansah
I wrote in the opening weeks of the season how this young Englishman could be the surprise package this year, which could potentially lead to an end of season call up to the next summer’s European Championships. This 2023/24 season sees Liverpool participate in the Europa League, which is the secondary competition that is often frowned upon by elite footballing fans. What could transpire, however, is the successful transition of a squad that so desperately needed fresh regeneration. In changing and upgrading some of the old guard and allowing players like Quansah to gain continual starts and minutes for this historical club, is now looking like a blessing, one which could enable that fabled LFC 2.0 to flourish.
Jarell Quansah (20) vs USG #UEL
90 mins
99 passes (most in match)
90% pass accuracy
1 chance created
5 passes into final third
8 ball recoveries
4 interceptions
2 clearancesSolid once again. pic.twitter.com/i38ProAT3j
— Moby (@Mobyhaque1) October 5, 2023
Make no mistake, this was a dominant display once more, against a side that was desperate to make an impact against one of the world’s premier football institutions. With a huge 6ft 3inch frame, aggressive intent, bullish tendencies, and a very impressive speed to his developing game, this is the kind of defensive specimen that Jürgen Klopp loves in his monstrous central backline group. Despite being linked to so many centre backs in the summer just gone, it does seem that our German manager may have known all along what was already in his academy ranks, yet no one could have guessed how effortlessly the 20-year-old would have taken to first team football.
Every time we’ve seen this lad he’s been absolutely brilliant.
Completed the most passes tonight (97) + another clean sheet.
Here’s to Jarell Quansah, the most pleasant surprise of our season so far 🌟 pic.twitter.com/KHIRzTK8n4
— Watch LFC (@Watch_LFC) October 5, 2023
With so many years spent hoping the club would upgrade on the likes of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams, I believe the in-house lottery may have been won with this incredible talent emerging from nowhere. To stand out and show so much composure and maturity is phenomenal for someone with so little top flight experience. It is obviously still early days for the England Under-20 international, however, the sky does appear to be the limit for someone that also serves the squad as a long-term homegrown player.
Tonight’s game (and similar occasions) can sometimes become tricky affairs that can consume and overwhelm the supposed back-up brigade. What I am seeing is a new raft of hungry individuals emerge that will push and reinvigorate the senior players that perhaps started to rest on their silverware laden laurels.
Tonight, was solid and professional from all the players involved, though Jarell Quansah was still able to stand tall above all others. The man of the match could have swung in the favour of the equally impressive Ryan Gravenberch, yet the display of our wonderful young defender meant I had to award him tonight’s man of the match.
