Atalanta 0-5 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp lauds teen defender Rhys Williams who has begun Champions League career with three successive clean sheets

Jurgen Klopp has heaped praised on Liverpool defender Rhys Williams, the teen defender who helped the Reds thrash Atalanta 5-0 on Tuesday.

The Merseysiders have started their Champions League campaign in fine form, winning each of their first three matches to put one foot in the knockout rounds.

Getty Images - Getty

Williams has slotted into Liverpool’s defence as if he’s a veteran of the game – not an inexperienced 19-year-old

Liverpool followed up a narrow 1-0 defeat of Ajax in their European opener with a 2-0 win over Midtjylland last week, and then ran riot against Atalanta this time around.

Diogo Jota scored a hat-trick with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane also netting as the Reds’ remarkable front line enjoyed their night in Bergamo.

But particular praise must be reserved for Liverpool’s defence, which nullified a typically free-scoring Atalanta side and ensured the Reds kept their third successive clean sheet in this season’s Champions League.

One consistent factor in each of those shut-outs is the presence of 19-year-old Williams, the centre-back who has begun his European career with three straight clean sheets.

pressure

Stat which proves why Liverpool boss Klopp must consider dropping Firmino for Jota

cautioned

Why was Klopp given a yellow card during Liverpool's 5-0 win at Atalanta?

latest

Jota nets first Liverpool hat-trick, Jesus bags on City return, Ramos makes history

jot stuff

Diogo Jota scores brilliant hat-trick as Liverpool humiliate Atalanta in UCL

easy

Torres hits third successive Champions League goal as Man City breeze past Olympiakos

home

Cardboard fans, real flags and late drama: AFC Wimbledon finally make Plough Lane bow

point blank

Ajax star Tadic scores as he blasts ball through entire Midtjylland team

warned

Gerrard says Rangers duo suspended for COVID breaches will 'regret it for some time'

UCL

Atalanta v Liverpool LIVE commentary: Jota fires hat-trick as Reds run riot in Bergamo

signed, sealed, delivered

Wolves forward Pedro Neto signs new five-year deal at Molineux

He was introduced as a late substitute against Ajax and then played an hour of the Midtjylland clash, before making his first Champions League start – and playing the full 90 minutes – in the thrashing of Atalanta.

Remarkably, this is the first time ever Liverpool have started a Champions League campaign with three successive clean sheets – and Williams boasts an appearance in each of the matches!

And manager Klopp was understandably gushing in the wake of the Atalanta clash.

“Exceptional,” he said of Williams. “I cannot imagine being 19 and playing in the Champions League against [Duvan] Zapata, it’s incredible!

Getty Images - Getty

Williams was on the end of a hearty Jurgen Klopp hug after his fine European performance

“I couldn’t be more happy for Rhys. You should see him in the dressing room, you’d need something special to get the smile off his face!”

Williams has been afforded his chance in the team due to the potentially season-ending injury suffered by Virgil van Dijk in last month’s Merseyside derby.

“We had to change because Virg is not there any more, so we share the responsibility,” added Klopp. “We put it on ten shoulders instead of one.

“Everybody has to step up now; Robbo [Andy Robertson], Trent [Alexander-Arnold] and Joe [Gomez], they are in charge. How the team defended tonight was absolutely incredible.”

from Football - news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures https://ift.tt/34S4Sju
via IFTTT

• Share
• Share
• Tweet
• Pin It