It's no wonder Jurgen Klopp says his Anfield story is "far from finished".

In a big semi-final with his side very much second favourites after a poor first leg, he selected four academy graduates in the starting XI and another couple on the bench.

It is that youthful promise built into his team which has led many Liverpool supporters to hope he will remain with the club to develop a new team, even beyond his current contract which expires in 2024.

That though, according to the Reds boss is for another day, and this day, after a pleasing EFL Cup victory and with a Premier League game against Palace coming up fast, is about his young players.

In particular, Trent Alexander-Arnold has reached an "insane" level - according to his manager - whilst Curtis Jones, still 20, is a player that made Klopp say simply about his talent: "Ooof. Wow!"

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Jurgen Klopp has guided Liverpool to the Carabao Cup final (
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Getty Images)

It seems barely plausible, but is absolutely true, that only Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller have provided more assists in Europe’s big five leagues than Alexander-Arnold since the start of the 2018-19 season.

And Klopp believes that makes him almost unique in world football, to possess such attacking threat, while doing his job defensively.

"I don’t know anybody who is like Trent…who is a right back and is that decisive and influential. The package of Trent is insane, really interesting I would say," the manager explained.

"And I really don’t always like when they mention about Trent: ‘yeah, defensively he’s not that good’. I heard it again on the tv on the bus on the way home from Arsenal.

"I thought he did outstandingly well defensively. Little Martinelli we will talk about this player in the future - he will have a proper career - so it’s really good what Trent did there against him."

If Klopp believes Arsenal’s Martinelli has a big future, then he believes the sky's the limit for his own defender.

Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson passed 100 assists between them for Liverpool, with the two at the Emirates on Thursday, and Klopp said: "I’m not sure what it means in history.

"He still has 15 years or whatever time to play and to create and to score and to learn and improve. But the last five years were a good start in a career!"

Kaide Gordon at just 17 was not out of his depth at Arsenal and will get more game time now, while keeper Caoimhin Kelleher was so good he has already been guaranteed a place in the EFL Cup final, ahead of Alisson, with Klopp singing his praises.

Yet he reserved special mention for Jones, who has responded well to a heart to heart with the manager last week, as Klopp told him the time has come to deliver on his immense promise.

Caoimhin Kelleher is expected to play in the EFL Cup final against Chelsea next month (
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Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

"From when I first saw him I am one of his biggest fans,” Klopp said. The talent group was training at Melwood and I looked out of my office and saw him and it was 'Ooof. Wow'.

"He was 15 at the time but already clearly a massive talent. Talents need to work and he is doing that work and talents need to learn the game and he is doing that every day.

"Sometimes they need a push and Curtis looks like he is that guy. It is a proper response and he can have that much more often if his response is like this!"

Klopp revealed that Joel Matip, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Fabinho will all have late fitness checks before the visit to Palace.

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