Marko Grujic came off the bench on Saturday to make his first appearance at Anfield and loved every minute of it.
The young Serb has been sparsely used this term by Jurgen Klopp, but did get a full debut in the EFL Cup versus Derby County last week and put in a decent shift.
SEE MORE:
Liverpool players dominate Premier League Power Rankings; 4 Reds in Top 10
As we were dominating Hull City at the weekend, Klopp gave him another opportunity from the bench, with Grujic looking right at home.
“Every player and the people in the stadium enjoyed the game,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.
“It’s interesting when you come on from the bench, it’s a nice feeling. It was my first game at Anfield and the feeling was incredible.
“I heard [about the atmosphere] and watched some games before I signed. I made my competitive debut against Derby in the cup and then came on at Anfield. The feeling is nice. I will try to keep working hard.
“It was a nice game for everyone. We played very well and scored three goals in the first half, and then we continued the same in the second half.
“But we conceded one goal and we will try to improve on those moments from set-pieces. That’s what we can improve.
“The game was very good and I was happy to get some more minutes, it’s nice to be part of it.
“All of the players in my position, and other positions, are playing very well,” continued Grujic.
“We have had good results to start the season. We had some hard matches away. We will be better from week to week – that’s the most important thing.
“I will try to show my skills in training to get more minutes in the Premier League.”
What’s noticeable about Grujic is his physical strength for one so young and how naturally he fits into Klopp’s 4-3-3, either side of an anchoring midfielder.
There were questions when we acquired the 20-year-old whether he’d be a sitting midfielder, a winger or a no.10, but it’s the free, box-to-box role Klopp’s decided to use him in.
Currently, we have Gini Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana in these positions – both of whom are undroppable right now – but Grujic will get his opportunities throughout the campaign. Emre Can can’t get in the side right now either, so the youngster has nothing to worry about.
We’ve drawn Spurs in the next round of the EFL Cup, which will take place next month. Perhaps that’ll be Grujic’s next chance of a start.