KIDS ARE ALL FIGHT PREMIER LEAGUE

Klopp: Williams and Jones are now in scrap with stars for first-team spots

JURGEN KLOPP believes there is a silver lining to Liverpool’s blip — with two youngsters proving they are ready to step into the big time.

The Reds have slumped to three defeats in their last four games after previously losing just two all season... and one of those was when they played a youth team in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.

That mini-blip has seen the Mersey men crash out of the FA Cup and also put their Champions League hopes in jeopardy (they trail Atletico Madrid 1-0 ahead of next week’s second leg at Anfield), but manager Klopp sees positives in the displays of midfielder Curtis Jones and defender Neco Williams.

Both were outstanding in the midweek defeat at Chelsea, putting some of their more senior team-mates to shame, and Klopp insisted they have proved their worth to the first team.

“Curtis showed so many things where everybody thought, ‘Wow, what a player’. Yes, and then you lose the ball, that’s a learning process,” the Kop boss said of the Scouse midfielder.

“That’s learning. You cannot learn it at home in the living room, you have to learn on the pitch and you have to react to it, and he’s done that. He’s shown he’s a fantastic talent. And Neco, too. He played a super game at Chelsea, and showed that we have another full-back coming through, which helps us for the future.”

Jones, who has just turned 19, and Williams, still 18, have both been told by Klopp they have bright futures at Anfield.

For Wales Under-19 fullback Williams, who looks a real find, the chance to play against top international stars like Pedro and Willian at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday was a huge boost to his career development.

“I’ve played against top players and that’s the only way you are going to learn – the better players you play against the more you are going to improve,” he said. “The more games I play, the more confident I’m going to get. I’m just thankful that the boss trusts me.”

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, who has sat out two matches with a hip injury, is fit to face Bournemouth tomorrow.

PROMISE Jones and Williams (below) have both delivered for Klopp