After Ibrahima Konate suffered an injury during Liverpool’s 5-1 victory over Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday, Jarell Quansah stepped in and produced a mature performance in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City. His impressive display earned him praise from Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who believes the Liverpool Academy product has a bright future ahead of him. Van Dijk was asked about the young star after the final whistle – and gave a glowing review.”He’s been important. He dealt with every challenge that was thrown his way. He was outstanding again. The sky is the limit. He just needs to stay humble, work hard, and keep improving.”Premier League title race will go down to the wireThe 21-year-old responded by saying that he is trying ‘to be like Van Dijk.”I’ve improved a lot, but for me, it’s just about improving still. I didn’t have the perfect game but I’m striving to be good and to be like this man next to me. We didn’t win the game. We didn’t keep a clean sheet. That’s the mentality you’ve got to have if you want to be a top defender, which I’m aspiring to be,’ the defender continued. For us the task was to win the game and we had chances in the second half. Coming away with a point is not a bad situation, so we just have to be positive. The next few weeks we just have to enjoy the ride. If you think back to 12 months ago where we were. Look where we are right now. It’s something we don’t take for granted. Sometimes in life, in football, these things happen. I want to make sure that we enjoy this as well.”𝙂𝙃𝘼𝙉𝘼 𝙏𝘼𝙇𝙀𝙉𝙏 𝙒𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙃Name: Jarell Quansah 🏴 🏴 🇬🇭 Age: Jan 29, 2003 (21)Height: 190 cm / 79 kgClub: LiverpoolPosition: CB / RBValue: €6.00mQuansah epitomizes the archetype of a promising young CB, equipped with a blend of physicality and technical acumen… pic.twitter.com/zRfEpKzq6A— Ibrahim Sannie Daara (@SannieDaara) March 11, 2024 Besides England, Quansah also qualifies to represent Scotland, Barbados, and Ghana through his grandparents. Quansah’s brother, Keenan, is also a footballer and plays as a right-back for Southport FC in the National League. Quansah’s grandfather, Samuel Quansah, is a former Ghana international who moved to England in the 1950s. After trials with Manchester United, he played in the lower leagues.Jarell had joined Liverpool at the young age of five after being scouted playing for a local team in his hometown, Warrington. He was always destined to make the first team, and was made captain of the youth side three years ago. Back then, words from Liverpool Under-18 manager Marc Bridge-Wilkinson were a clear indication of how strongly the club believed in Quansah.”From our side of things, we have worked with him all season and I’ve been fortunate to have worked with him for several years now. I know the potential he has got. He’s really stepped up to the captain role that we gave him at the start of the year. He’s becoming more of a leader. His performances have merited that on and off the pitch. I would imagine from the outside looking in that he has gone under the radar a little, but within these walls, there are a lot of people who think a lot of him.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7939292##The young centre-back was made captain due to his dedication and the ability to lead his fellows by example, something Bridge-Wilkinson admired a lot.”First and foremost, he does things properly. He trains properly. He acts and he handles himself — around the building, on buses, wherever you are — in the right way. The example he sets for not just the group that we have but for the younger groups too. When they are in and around, he sets an example for everyone. He has been a worthy captain, and I think he’s performed in that role really well.”Jarell Quansah. Unbelievable mentality. pic.twitter.com/usewsjOn9P— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) March 10, 2024 Quansah has been fully committed to Liverpool’s under-18s team all season. His progress has been exactly what the club had hoped for, and he was awarded a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in February.There is much more to come from him.
