Topic: Ki-Jana Hoever

[newterp]

That's probably fair enough.

As a 16 year old, he did very well.

As a professional CB, he did fair. Muscled off the ball a few times. Sent a few passes astray. Got caught out of position ( Fab and Millie had to cover).

But he's 16. Showed his pace and dribbling skills. Made some good choices with his passes. Kept the ball ticking over at times. Had a couple clearances. Plenty of talent.

Correct. But as noted - if you take the performance in context + his age = Incredible.

[GreatEx]

It'd almost be quite disappointing if we have to wait another year before he plays another match, if not in the league cup. Of course with Van Dijk a nailed on starter, and Gomez/Lovren/Matip all involved, it won't be easy for him to find much game time anywhere, he's shown his maturity massively tonight.

Would also be interesting to see him play a first team game at right back, if tonight was anything to go by he might look comfortable.

When we're 10 points clear with 3 league fixtures remaining, we can try him at RB, CB and in the Firmino position.

[GucciMane]

For their first goal he played like a seasoned vet and covered Milner. Who completely bugged out, Lovren or VVD would have shouted at Milly to take out Jiminez. Still far from first team ready, maybe at right back but Camacho was more impressive there.

[idontknow]

Well played to the lad. 16 and he's played for Liverpool. Even in my dreams I'm 17 when I get my debut. I do score a hat-trick though, so I'm still winning.

[Lofty Ambitions]

What a game from the young lad, especially as he had to step in from the very beginning, unexpectedly. I honestly thought Wolves would bully him all over the field, but not so. Quite a promising young talent for sure. Seems our defending options are only getting better come next season or two.

[Gus 1855]

So so promising, but looks very much like a full back to me at the moment. Can see him being developed the same way Gomez has. Starting at FB and possibly switching to CB once he develops.

[CraigDS]

So so promising, but looks very much like a full back to me at the moment. Can see him being developed the same way Gomez has. Starting at FB and possibly switching to CB once he develops.

We have so many young fullbacks. For once it would be nice to see a young CB blooded as a CB.

[Djimi Smicer34]

That Chris fella from Redmen TV rated him a 5/10 and thought he was poor. How do that lot get so many viewers with such poor footballing opinion?!

He was obviously watching a different game to most other people.

Hoever was excellent.

[royhendo]

Feed him steaks.

[cheshiremike]

What will help him is training and playing with VVD.

The lad did amazing, he is 16 ffs people need to get a grip. My highlight at 16 was friday nights eurotrash, he has just made his debut for Liverpool.

High hopes for him like every single coach at LFC.

well done lad

[13th man]

Most impressive young player debut since Gerrard. In fact beef him up and he could be the next Gerrard 

[Lush is the best medicine...]

He’s 16 and was playing next to a converted DM and an inexperienced right back, thought with all that he was very good

[Smellytrabs]

I'm sure I saw him smoking a cigar while he was carrying the ball out from the back in the 2nd half.

[kasperoff]

Looked great. Got every chance of making it big.

[AndyMuller]

Start him against Brighton.

[ThePoolMan]

His nickname can be "FBI"...

[royhendo]

As a professional CB, he did fair. Muscled off the ball a few times. Sent a few passes astray. Got caught out of position ( Fab and Millie had to cover).

But he's 16. Showed his pace and dribbling skills. Made some good choices with his passes. Kept the ball ticking over at times. Had a couple clearances. Plenty of talent.

I liked this  - it reminded me of Gomez and I guess we never saw his earliest showings at Charlton but 16 is 16. Muscling off the ball wont be a problem in a while due to strength conditioning. Positioning and use of his body is natural but he’s used to dominating so will need experience. Recovery pace looks like it’ll be alright too - it heals all ails (contrast with Milner getting obstructed after losing the ball for the first - Gomez would have sprinted round the fella).

He looks like a beast in the making doesn’t he? 

[hesbighesred]

He looks like a beast in the making doesn’t he? 

Yep. It seemed to me that everything he did badly will come through experience, but the stuff he tried, and the stuff he did well, is rare to find and harder to teach.

[thaddeus]

To quote Neil Critchley (after his under 23 debut): "I don't want to get too carried away with him but, wow, what a performance" 

As others have said his performance on its own merits was OK-ish and he's a long way from the level of our senior central defenders.  In the context of being a 16-year old playing alongside an 18-year old full-back (who played like a winger!) and a makeshift CB in Fabinho against a seasoned international in Jimenez it was excellent.

He'll likely be on the bench at Brighton but in the nicest way possible I hope we won't see him in the first team again until pre-season!

[Cheesehead]

Very very impressed with this lad last night. The only bright spot from the game.

[cashmere pringle]

Well played to the lad. 16 and he's played for Liverpool. Even in my dreams I'm 17 when I get my debut. I do score a hat-trick though, so I'm still winning.

[bird_lfc]

That is mental. I still class myself as 'young' and I'm 26  (I know, I know)

To come on at 16 , as a defender, in a team of almost strangers is mental. The fact Klopp trusted him to even make the bench let alone come on for Lovren shows how highly he must be rated here.

[meady1981]

Not sure how old he is but he looked comfortable.

[Phil M]

Not sure how old he is

Can someone check this and pm him? Ta.

[wampa1]

Lovren or VVD would have shouted at Milly to take out Jiminez

He was on a yellow so would have been sent off had he done that.

[Jookie]

For a young centre back (never mind 16!) making his competitive debut it was a very, very good performance in a makeshift backline.

I don't think we'll see him around the 1st team much in the next 12-18 months but on that showing he looks like a genuinely exciting prospect. Needs to keep his head down and hone his game and physique at under 23 level. Maybe the League Cup next season will be his next opportunity.

[Cheesehead]

For a young centre back (never mind 16!) making his competitive debut it was a very, very good performance in a makeshift backline.

I don't think we'll see him around the 1st team much in the next 12-18 months but on that showing he looks like a genuinely exciting prospect. Needs to keep his head down and hone his game and physique at under 23 level. Maybe the League Cup next season will be his next opportunity.

He might be playing on Saturday yet! He looks like he could cope tho.

[Peabee]

I liked this  - it reminded me of Gomez and I guess we never saw his earliest showings at Charlton but 16 is 16. Muscling off the ball wont be a problem in a while due to strength conditioning. Positioning and use of his body is natural but he’s used to dominating so will need experience. Recovery pace looks like it’ll be alright too - it heals all ails (contrast with Milner getting obstructed after losing the ball for the first - Gomez would have sprinted round the fella).

He looks like a beast in the making doesn’t he?

Yeah, I was impressed. He oozes confidence on the ball.

[Caston]

He was good, but in 20 years he'll be 36 which must be worrying for us.

[meady1981]

He was good, but in 20 years he'll be 36 which must be worrying for us.

Wait, he's 16?

[FlashGordon]

Wait, he's 16?

Yeah but in Everton years he'll be 30 in 14 years time.

[disgraced cake]

He was good, but in 20 years he'll be 36 which must be worrying for us.

Added with the fact Salah will be 28 in 18 months, this is very concerning and we should look to shift both of them in the summer.

[an fear dearg]

With him and Gomez and VVD there is a cycle of master and apprentice there for the next 15 years,

[johnybarnes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IFhBK6lZqs

Come on...

[Andy]

Most impressive young player debut since Gerrard. In fact beef him up and he could be the next Gerrard 

You're thinking of TAA.

[tubby]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IFhBK6lZqs

Come on...

That little dummy to move the Wolves player and create the angle for the pass at the end of his run was delightful.  Unbelievable composure for someone his age, and a defender as well.

[Buck Pete]

No disrespect to Fabinho and the two FB's last night but imagine him playing alongside VVD or Joe Gomez and our two established fullbacks,  who are getting more and more experienced as each game goes on.

Obviously not this season but I think Hoever's transition into the first team may come sooner than we think all being well (injury etc). This time next year he will be a few days off 18.

[I've been a good boy]

He makes me feel so old, I was grafting away at university while he was sat at home in nappies. The future is bright with him and VVD at the back, pure Dutch versatility

[Yiannis]

Feed him steaks.

Klopp after a while: " Jesus Christ, Peter, we've bred a monster'

[redmark]

No disrespect to Fabinho and the two FB's last night but imagine him playing alongside VVD and our two established fullbacks who are getting more and more experienced as each game goes on.

Obviously not this season but I think Hoever's transition into the first team may come sooner than we think all being well (injury etc). This time next year he will be a few days off 18.

He makes me feel so old, I was grafting away at university while he was sat at home in nappies. The future is bright with him and VVD at the back, pure Dutch versatility

Alas poor Gomez, we knew him briefly.