When the UEFA Europa League group stage draw was made on Friday 1st September 2023 in Monaco, Liverpool FC were expected to win Group E.

That wasn’t being disrespectful to opponents Toulouse FC, Royal Union Saint-Gilloise or Linzer Athletik Sport-Klub, but when you’ve reached three UEFA Champions League finals in the previous six seasons it creates a certain level of expectation.

Yet the teams that Jürgen Klopp was going to field in the second-tier UEFA Europa League group stage were always going to be less-established than those who played in the first-tier UEFA Champions League, which created a new question. Would the young players afforded opportunity be capable of stepping up and getting the job done? You betcha.

Liverpool FC’s 4-0 win against LASK at Anfield on Matchday 5 sent the Reds through to the knockout stages as group winners. When the full-time whistle blew news filtered through from France that Toulouse FC and USG had drawn, leaving LFC four points clear with a game to spare.

Mission accomplished, but what you may not be aware of is that a total of 26 different players had appeared in the competition for the Reds. One of them was Jarell Quansah.

The Warrington-born centre-back has emerged as a real talent this season. An Academy graduate, at the age of 20 he was thrust into the limelight when coming on for his Premier League debut in tricky circumstances at St James’ Park in August with Liverpool FC a goal down to Newcastle United FC and down to 10 men following the first-half dismissal of Virgil Van Dijk.

Brought on for Joël Matip , Quansah took to top-flight football like a duck to water and a late Darwin Núñez double secured an against-the-odds 2-1 success. What a start. The following weekend, Quansah came on to make his Anfield debut in a 3-0 win against Aston Villa FC and then started his first game in the 3-1 comeback win at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

He subsequently made his European debut at home to USG in the UEFA Europa League and went on to start all three of the group games at Anfield. Quansah also played in the 3-2 defeat in Toulouse - his late equaliser controversially ruled out by VAR - and on the whole has enjoyed the European experience.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” he tells the Official LFC Members Area. “I’ve always enjoyed it, whether I’ve been playing international football or in the UEFA Youth League. It’s a different task to English football so playing in the Europa League at first-team level has been enjoyable.

“Teams set up in different ways. Sometimes in England it is more common for low blocks and long balls whereas in Europe teams tend to try to play a bit more and are technically better or stronger.

“There are just so many different components to why European teams are set up totally different and every game I’m learning. I’m not the finished article so every moment I get to step on the pitch is always going to be about learning. That’s what I need in my career at this minute.”

With Matip currently sidelined through injury, Quansah’s UEFA Europa League experience may prove invaluable in the coming weeks and months should he be called upon, but he isn’t the only youngster to experience European football this season.

Ben Doak, Luke Chambers, Conor Bradley, James McConnell, Calum Scanlon and Stefan Bajčetić have all appeared in the competition and Quansah feels that showcases the squad depth that Klopp has at his disposal.

“The squad depth at the minute is great,” he says. “Everyone is fighting to play every minute they can and I think the fact that we played 26 players in the Europa League shows there are 26 players at a level.

“Everyone who has played has played well, so there is healthy competition and that is good from the manager’s point of view.”

The importance of Liverpool FC winning their UEFA Europa League group, and not just qualifying, should not be overlooked either. Group winners get to skip a round - the runners-up must face a UEFA Champions League dropout in a play-off in February - and also play the second leg of their round of 16 match at home.

So the Redmen will be away on Thursday 7th March - thus pushing the mouth-watering Anfield Premier League clash with Manchester City FC back to Sunday 10th March - and will play the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg at home on Thursday 14th March.

“It was very important to win our Europa League group, that was the goal,” admits Quansah. “We set out in this competition to be top, so to go through after five games was a good achievement.

“We play one less round now so being able to rest players and get everyone energised at a busy time of the season is good for us.”

With almost three months before Liverpool FC’s UEFA Europa League journey continues the focus is now on domestic matters with a hectic Premier League schedule added to by Carabao Cup and FA Cup encounters against top-flight opponents. Quite what role England U21 international Quansah plays in this busy period remains to be seen, but he is keen to continue his development.

“The games I’ve played mean nothing now. It’s about the next game and how I can improve. At the end of the day I’m fighting for a spot to be a Liverpool player, so that’s always on my mind at every minute. The opportunity to keep playing and progressing is exciting.”