Jurgen Klopp has warned Trent Alexander-Arnold not to get too used to playing regular first-team football this season.
The 18-year-old has started the season at right back for Liverpool with Nathaniel Clyne sidelined through injury.
And
he capped off Klopp's trust in his ability with a stunning free kick
that set them on their way to a 2-1 Champions League play-off first leg
win away at Hoffenheim on Tuesday.
But the German does not want to
over-burden the teenager too early in his career, despite his increasing
levels of maturity on the field.
Klopp
suggested he could even be benched for the visit of Crystal Palace on
Saturday, with the club facing fixture pile-up in August already.
He said: 'It would have been a good
situation for Trent to play games and try to understand but I don't
think we can let him play five games in 14 days or something like this
so that's the situation.
'Why? Because he is 18. It's about bringing the player in a better situation to deal better with the intensity of the game.
'He has not had the time other players (have had) to do this. Yes, he is a big talent but I think we speak too much about him.
'That's not my problem because I want a situation where the boy can develop, make mistakes.'
The
visit of Palace is the first of three games in eight days at Anfield,
with the return leg against Hoffenheim followed by a clash with Arsenal
ahead of the international break.
'Trent's
a young boy with a few more skills than the others, 100%, but it's not
just the goal or the free kick - it was the other set pieces, the
crosses were very good.
'He has a lot
to learn, a lot to adapt. I can only change situations if I have the
opportunities but can we have five full backs come through? Of course
not. There are a lot of challenges.
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