Three Liverpool youngsters outdo their former football star dads as they bag first trophy with Carabao Cup win
JAYDEN DANNS, BOBBY CLARK and Lewis Koumas are only at the very start of their careers but already, the three have all got one over their dads.
Former midfielder Neil Danns, currently assistant boss at Tranmere, played for Crystal Palace, Bolton and Colchester but failed to bag a major trophy.
Bobby Clark picked up a winners-medalGetty
His dad, Lee, did not win a cup in his careerPA:Press Association
Lewis Koumas’ dad was also a professional footballerRex
Jason Koumas did reach an EFL final but did not winAction Images
Jayden Danns has also surpassed his fatherGetty
Neil Danns starred for the likes of Crystal Palace and BoltonAction Images
Ex-Newcastle, Sunderland and Fulham midfielder Lee Clark enjoyed some promotions but never won a cup.
And ex-West Brom and Wigan midfielder Jason Koumas got to an EFL Cup final but lost in 2000 with Tranmere.
Yet as Jurgen Klopp’s kids delivered a hugely deserved win, there will have been some incredibly proud dads – and grandparents – watching up in the stands.
Danns’ granddad also knows about performing on the big stage as he appeared at the 1987 Eurovision Song contest. Neil Danns senior, who was also a European skateboarding champion, was a backing singer with the UK entry sung by Rikki Peebles – called Only The Light
Yet at Wembley yesterday, 18-year-old Jayden was just one of the reasons why Liverpool fans, still coming to terms with the impending departure of Klopp, have to admire the way the German coach is leaving the club in unbelievably good shape.
Danns, Liverpool’s top scorer in the academy with 21 goals this season, was handed a Reds debut in a brief run-out in the 4-1` win over Luton at Anfield four days earlier.
Here, he replaced Cody Gakpo just before the end of normal time and looked as though he had been playing at this level for years. In only his second professional game, the no 9 already has more career trophies than Harry Kane.
He was only denied a goal by a decent save from Djordje Petrovic, while Liverpool midfielder Clark, 19, came on for the tiring Conor Bradley in the 72nd minute. This was only his seventh appearance but Clark showed no fear and looked totally comfortable against a Chelsea midfield which had cost £220million to assemble.
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Midfielder Koumas, 18, was on the bench despite not having a single first-team appearance under his belt. But just to be part of the celebrations while receiving a winners-medal is not a bad start to life with the senior team.
Midfielder James McConnell, 19, has only just emerged and this was only his seventh appearance when replacing Alexis Mac Allister but he was part of the side which finished extra-time much stronger than Chelsea.
Jarell Quansah replaced Ibrahima Konate at half-time of extra-time, and he is only 21, while it feels as though Harvey Elliott has been around for ages but is just 20.
And then there is right-back Bradley, 20, who was the best player on the pitch at the start of the game. He has made a stunning impression for Klopp since coming in for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold. Bradley also displayed his versatility when he was shunted into midfield following the loss of Ryan Gravenberch through injury.
This was hardly the last time Liverpool fielded a youthful line-up in the competition.
In 2019, they fielded the under-23s in a 5-0 loss at Aston Villa as the seniors were away in Qatar at the Club World Cup,
But the fact a team bursting with academy experience ended up winning a Wembley final is arguably Klopp’s greatest achievement.
Gravenberch hobbled onto the pitch on crutches while wearing a protective boot to join in on the celebrations.
This latest injury means Klopp now has 11 players sidelined and you have to wonder how many of them will be back for Wednesday’s FA Cup home tie with Southampton.
Yet while Liverpool will need their big guns back for the Premier League, Klopp knows he may as well stick with his kids in the Cup.
