Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for Ryan Gravenberch whose stirring performance helped Liverpool register a 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise, writes Liv Heslington at Anfield.
Following a series of missed chances, it was Graveberch who opening the scoring just before half-time with his first goal for the Reds.
It was the attacking midfielder’s all round performance that caught his manager’s eye before he was replaced later in the game.
“He’s [Gravenberch] enjoying the situation,” said Klopp.
“That’s important! Step by step his confidence will increase and that’s good to see. He’s technically incredible and a smart boy.
“We thought he’d play the full 90 minutes but he dropped a bit and we didn’t want to risk anything so we brought in Dom. Very good, a very good direction.
“I saw a lot of good and positive individual performances tonight. It was our first international game at Anfield and it was good”
Liverpool now face Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Sunday afternoon before another international break. Klopp will need to rotate his squad between domestic and European games but believes the weekend could be too soon for the likes of injured Cody Gakpo and Thiago.
Said the Reds boss: “Gakpo has a good chance of coming back after the international break. He’s already out of his brace and walking normally. He’s got the best situation out of his injury.
“For him (Thiago) it’s just annoying. Two setbacks are massive and enough to take him off the pitch again. Obviously not the same injury, but similar. We can’t put pressure on him”
Liverpool’s 2-0 win over the Belgian league leaders has consolidated the Reds place at the top of Europa League Group E ahead of Toulouse’s arrival at Anfield on October 26.
