Academy'It doesn't get any better than having Klopp and his staff watching our games'
Liverpool U21s head coach Barry Lewtas has told his players they have to give their best account of themselves in every game they play, with eyes constantly upon them.
The young Reds head to Tottenham Hotspur in Premier League 2 on Friday night, boosted by their first win in the division last Saturday with the 1-0 triumph over Blackburn Rovers.
That victory was achieved in front of the watching Jürgen Klopp, Pepijn Lijnders, Vitor Matos and John Achterberg.
Friday night's game takes place at the Lamex Stadium, home of Stevenage FC, and you can watch it live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO, with kick-off set for 7pm BST.
Read on as Lewtas reflects on the start to the season and explains how big a boost it was for his players to have the first-team manager and his staff watching on from the touchline…
U21s highlights: Liverpool 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
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On the first win of the season against Blackburn...
It was a deserved victory. You always kind of want to get up and running and get that first win. In our first game, Manchester City were ruthless. We had good control of the game down at Brighton and in the end a point when we got a late equaliser felt positive. And I felt [it was] a deserved win against Blackburn.
On Max Woltman netting the winner on his first start of the season…
He did well playing down that left side. He's got that ability to receive the ball then cut in on his right foot and it was a good finish. It was a good team goal. I felt we had lots of nice moments. Coming into this game, we haven't had that ruthless edge and we had been beaten in both boxes really and we wanted to put that right against Blackburn. We gifted them a few chances, if I'm being fair, but they are a good team.
On the presence of Klopp watching on from the touchline…
It's brilliant. Pep was with us on the morning of the game and we had breakfast together and we were chatting about the players who had been training with the first team. The first team finished training and then the boss, Pep, Vitor and John Achterberg all came down to watch us. It doesn't get any better if you are working at the Academy. And for the players in our group, that's the next step. He watches our games and he makes his judgements, so it's really good.
On the need to try to score more goals and finish the opposition off a lot earlier…
We defend as a team and we attack as a team, and there's no pointing fingers about missing chances. But from our play from our first three games, we have to say we are disappointed we have only scored two goals. But the real beauty is it's a young group and it gives us something to work upon. I think we are in a good place at the moment but every game is tough in this league and I learned that very quickly in this job.
On Friday's trip to face Tottenham…
It doesn't get any easier and every game poses a challenge. The games against Tottenham since I've been in this job have been crazy, in the sense they have turned us over, we have turned them over and we have also had some very close games. Listen, we know and we said to the lads at the start of the season that we have to be at our best in every game. I think if you fall below your levels in this division, teams will punish you and win.
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