Liverpool’s new teenage hero Jayden Danns might benefit from a chat with 17-year-old darts sensation Luke Littler, according to boss Jurgen Klopp after the striker scored two goals off the bench in the Reds’ win over Southampton last night.
Danns made his first-team debut just seven days ago and since then, has played at Wembley in a cup final and now scored two goals at Anfield to complete a dream week. The youngster was joined by debutant Lewis Koumas on the scoresheet.
And Klopp has compared Danns, and the rest of Liverpool’s young team, with darts World Championship runner-up Littler, who captured the hearts of the nation over the New Year period by storming to the final against all odds.
‘It is a little bit like the new darts sensation, it is fine for tonight,’ said Klopp.
‘Tomorrow, leave the boys in the corner. Everyone who is with us, we should have our moments, they will have more moments than we expect.
‘Exceptional talents, of course it is not natural that a boy aged 18 is as calm as you like.
‘The second goal, calm as you like, he saw when Conor (Bradley) shot that the goalie cannot take it.
‘Don’t forget it when the transfer window opens, don’t (ask for) 12 signings!’
Trey Nyoni was the latest kid to make his debut and Klopp added on the 16-year-old: ‘With Trey you can see there is absolutely no body, I don’t know what his weight is, but he’s very mature on the ball. It is special and for me strange as well.
‘I never had that, that you play with so many kids. It is a really interesting experience.’
Klopp also lumped praise on Danns’ attacking abilities, with the 18-year-old sensationally chipping the ball over Southampton goalkeeper Joe Lumley for his second of the evening.
The German manager stated that the centre-forward should have already scored for the senior side during their Carabao Cup final victory against Chelsea on Sunday.
‘Striking instincts, no doubt about that,’ he said on the 18-year-old.
‘There is no youth level when you don’t have that. He showed in the final that he can arrive in the right moment, he was there three times and with a longer toe he probably scores already in the final.’
Klopp put his faith in his young stars and it certainly paid off tonight, with Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Bradley and Koumas all starting for the Reds and helping them to seal victory.
The future certainly looks bright for Liverpool who had eight academy graduates on their bench for Sunday’s final.
‘I can’t imagine what this must feel for the boys, it feels pretty good for me,’ he added.
‘It is the week of the academy.’
Share or comment on this article: Jurgen Klopp compares Liverpool’s two-goal hero Jayden Danns, 18, to darts sensation Luke Littler after he sealed 3-0 FA Cup win… as Reds boss says it’s ‘special and strange’ to play so many kids
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
