Grant Holt has praised Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for ‘encouraging’ Liverpool youngster Kaide Gordon after he misplaced a pass against Norwich on Tuesday night, as he told Sky Sports (21/09/21 at 10:10 pm).
During Liverpool’s 3-0 EFL Cup win, former Norwich striker Holt noticed Oxlade-Chamberlain going over to Gordon, giving him ‘a little tap’ on the shoulder and telling him to ‘keep going’.
It’s some feat for Gordon, who, at the age of 16, made his senior Liverpool debut and impressed his supporters with his performance out on the right.
Jurgen Klopp played a great blend of youth and experienced stars at Carrow Road and that helped Liverpool secure an easy passage into the next round.
At pitchside at Norwich, Holt praised Liverpool’s £35 million man (BBC Sport) for his actions after Gordon’s ‘sloppy’ moment from Tuesday night.
“I think the belief in them, it’s just instilled in them,” said Holt. “It’s something to do with Liverpool, you put them in any situation and they just thrive in it.
“I think, in the first half, me and John (Barnes) were talking off-air about, Gordon had gone inside, taken a little step over, took another touch and he gave away his pass, a little sloppy.
“Oxlade-Chamberlain just came over, he gave him a little tap and told him ‘just keep going’. Encouraging him.
“When you have players like that in and around you then you are always going to thrive.”
The Reds have now been drawn up against Preston North End in the next round and it’s some tie for the Championship club.
Given that Klopp handed a number of younger players a chance against Norwich, then there is no reason why he won’t do the same in the next round.
Three Liverpool teenagers – Conor Bradley, Gordon and Tyler Morton – all made their debuts and should be in line to play again in the next round.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
