Liverpool’s centre-back problem might have been solved without Jurgen Klopp spending a penny thanks to the emergence of Jarell Quansah. The 20-year-old sensation has been excellent in his first season of senior football at Anfield, continuing a fantastic start under Klopp with a top-quality display against Bournemouth.

The Reds boss admitted he was ‘wowed’ by Quansah’s performance in difficult conditions at the Vitality Stadium. A much-changed Liverpool team emerged with a 3-1 Carabao Cup victory – but Quansah was the standout star.

Klopp praised the defender’s performance, with the academy graduate showing outstanding composure despite rain thundering down on the south coast. His 97 passes were the most attempted by any Liverpool player, and he completed 89 per cent of them.

“That’s the other thing which was obvious: that he was really good,” Klopp said of Quansah’s performance after the game.

“In these circumstances, wow. So many difficult balls to judge, to estimate, where is it coming down? He did really well. On the ball, Caoimhin [Kelleher] thought, ‘give him the ball quite a lot and let’s see what he can do’. He did really well there. Yes, top game, absolutely.”