Klopp backs young stars

In an interview with the Liverpool official website, when discussing pre-season Klopp said that "young players are one year older... one year longer involved in the first team".

The German believes that this means that they can "make big steps because they are a little bit settled in a good way. They feel not as excited anymore about each day in training, thinking 'Oh my god, that's Adam Lallana next to me' and things like this. That can be a big difference."

18-year-old Alexander-Arnold and 17-year-old Woodburn were on the fringes of Klopp's squad last season. The former made 12 appearances in all competitions and the latter 9, becoming Liverpool's youngest-ever goalscorer at the age of 17 years and 42 days when he found the net in the EFL Cup against Leeds. Woodburn ended the season with a call up to the Wales senior squad for a game against the Republic of Ireland, though he was an unused substitute in the game.

Klopp has big hopes for the pair and this season is shaping up to be a big year in their development.