Jarell Quansah: Liverpool’s Young Defender Debuts in Premier League Start against Wolves

Jarell Quansah will make his full Premier League debut for Liverpool in their clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.

The defender, who has already played twice this season for the Reds, has impressed Jurgen Klopp and his fellow teammates already.

Quansah, 20, made his debut as a 77th-minute substitute for Joel Matip against Newcastle United. The Reds were already down to 10 men following Virgil van Dijk’s red card.

With Klopp’s side 1-0 down, the young defender was placed in an uncomfortable situation. St James’ Park has always proven to be a tough place to travel for any team, however, the 20-year-old took the game in his stride and impressed. 

The Reds would go on to win 2-1 thanks to two late goals from forward Darwin Nunez to earn them a big win.

Speaking after the game, star defender Trent Alexander-Arnold was quick to praise the players who came on and made an impact, including Quansah.

‘You don’t genuinely believe you’re going to win the game but if you stick together, you’ll get chances,’ said Alexander-Arnold after the game. 

‘The lads that came on, amazing. Jarell Quansah. Absolutely outstanding.’

Quansah, who completed three of his five attempted passes and won 50 per cent of his ground duels joked that he is ‘normally cool’ in these types of situations. 

‘I’m normally cool anyway,’ Quansah said after the Newcastle game. ‘But it’s always easier when something is sprung on you and you have got the adrenaline running through your veins.’

The 20-year-old has been on Liverpool’s books since the age of five. Born in Warrington, the defender has been a regular for the academy – making over 30 appearances for the under-21s. 

His first taste of senior football came last season, when he was loaned out to Bristol Rovers for the second half of the 2022/23 season.

He would go on to make 16 appearances for the club before returning to Anfield for pre-season. 

Following his impressive cameo against Eddie Howe’s side, Quansah made his second appearance for the Reds a week later in the club’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa. 

Now, the young star has the chance to show fans what he is capable of when he makes his first start against Wolves.

Speaking before the game with Wolves, Klopp revealed that Quansah is ready to make the step up to the first-team. With Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate not yet fit to play, the 20-year-old will be desperate to impress.

‘I think it’s pretty big but we try to make as little fuss of it as possible because I think he has shown in pre-season and in the two games where he came on, how good a player he is,’ Klopp said to TNT Sports.

‘I think it makes the most sense when we deal with it pretty naturally so we put him in the team yesterday and let him go, and now let’s hope that he can enjoy it.’