Jurgen Klopp’s role in Arne Slot’s discovery of his ‘new’ Liverpool midfielder

Arne Slot handed James McConnell an opportunity in the Champions League and was so impressed he’s changed his transfer plans – with Jurgen Klopp handing the midfielder his debut last term

It was Jurgen Klopp who handed a young James McConnell his debut – and Arne Slot is so impressed with the academy star that he’s changed his stance on a Liverpool loan.

The 20-year-old was among the young players to be handed a chance to impress during the Champions League outing at PSV. The Reds were edged out in a five-goal thriller but McConnell was an assured presence in the middle of the pitch.

Slot is due to meet with Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes on Thursday to discuss which young players may leave on loan in the final days of the window. The likes of Jayden Danns and Tyler Morton are poised to leave. McConnell was set to join them but now the Dutch coach believes he’s worthy of staying.

He said: “There’s definitely one that will not go out on loan: James McConnell. I liked him a lot today. Maybe the end result today would be good for him to go and play (elsewhere) but he is a player who hasn’t played a lot in the last six or seven months as he was injured for a while. He impressed me a lot today.

“He is competitive in the training sessions we had, he is always very competitive. I’m not surprised (by how he played), but you always wonder how you will react at this level.”

McConnell has long been on the radar of those at Anfield. He’s risen through the ranks, initially playing in a more advanced role before dropping back and learning a different midfield remit. The young star has quickly taken to the new position and Slot wasn’t surprised to see the player perform so confidently.

He said on McConnell’s display: “If I had been surprised that would mean he had not been at this level in training, but he has been competitive. I’m not surprised but you always wonder how they will react on this stage at this level. James deserves credit for his performance today.”

It was Klopp who first unearthed McConnell, handing him his Liverpool debut when he was called from the bench to replace Curtis Jones in the 88th minute during a Europa League home win over Toulouse in October 2023.

The academy star has admitted he was desperate for Liverpool to put the game to bed, knowing that he was more likely to get on for his debut if the game was safe and so it happened.

McConnell said: “I remember Chambo [Luke Chambers] started the game and I was just itching to get on. I was thinking, ‘If we could get a few more goals I might get on here.’ And when we went 4-1 up I was warming up and then got the call. I quickly got stripped and it was an amazing experience coming on.

“I got a couple of touches of the ball and I just loved every minute of it, it felt like the best thing ever and then we scored again when Mohamed Salah netted the fifth goal.”

McConnell also enjoyed the moment all young – and old – Liverpool players dream of. The Klopp embrace. The German giving the academy star a hug which confirmed he was happy with his efforts.

He said previously: “I learn from him every day and some of the coaching points he makes to me feels like gold dust and I listen and take everything he says on board. When I made my debut, you get that Klopp hug which you see on TV and it makes you feel amazing.”

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