Jarell Quansah finds solace from Liverpool sealing top four after title pain
Youngster Jarell Quansah, left, has fitted into a Liverpool side containing world-class stars such Luis Díaz as he stepped up from the academy. Photograph: Jon Super/AP
Jarell Quansah says Jürgen Klopp’s players are “gutted” they were unable to take their Premier League title challenge further but Liverpool will come back stronger next season.
Liverpool host Tottenham on Sunday in their first match since securing Champions League qualification, thanks to Ange Postecoglou’s side losing at Chelsea on Thursday night. The result guaranteed a top-four spot for Liverpool, who will in all likelihood finish third in the table behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
“It’s hard to take positives while the season is still going on,” Quansah said of qualifying for the Champions League. “But it’s a good thing. I am looking forward to next season, but we’re just gutted we couldn’t push for the title. It has always been the same here, at the very least qualifying for the Champions League and pushing for trophies and that is always what we are striving for and trying to do.”
Quansah made his debut in August, coming off the bench to help Liverpool’s 10 men defeat Newcastle 2-1, despite being a goal down when the centre-back replaced Joël Matip with 13 minutes to go. He hopes Sunday will bring a 31st appearance for the club in his first season as part of the senior squad.
Spurs’ visit will be Klopp’s penultimate at Anfield with Arne Slot set to replace him in the summer, and the Dutch coach will aim to build on his predecessor’s legacy. “The dressing room is full of winners and people who want to win – we won [the League Cup] this year as well and from there we are in a different place to others,” Quansah said. “We’ve got a strong group still and it will get stronger and stronger, the longer we are together.”
Liverpool have won once in their past five league games to derail their shot at winning the title. Quansah was at fault in the draw against Manchester United, giving the ball away to Bruno Fernandes who scored from 40 yards, a match which started their poor run.
“When I was younger I used to struggle when I made a mistake and sort of go under,” Quansah said. “So in such a big game I made that error but I’ve got to take the positives from it and the way I bounced back from it and managed to play [the final] 40 minutes without putting a foot wrong and helping with a goal.
“I didn’t go under and in probably one of the hardest stadiums you can go to in such a big game. Everyone makes mistakes and it is just about how you deal with them.”
While Quansah aims to impress Klopp’s successor, the German will be wondering what he will do with his time and has suggested he could become a pundit. Quansah said: “If he fancies doing that, he is an intelligent man and knows a lot of things about the game.” Would Quansah watch? “For sure.”