Promising midfielder Pedro Chirivella has been enjoying a productive loan spell in Holland and is ready to show he can offer the Reds more in 2017/18.
Having made his Liverpool debut in the 2015/16 season, the Spanish teenager was offered the chance of regular senior action with a temporary switch this term, and departed in January to Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles. There he has been able to find his best form, playing almost every minute for the last 10 league games and making a big impact on the team.
The 19-year-old has told EFE, reported by Diario Vasco, that the move was instigated by Jurgen Klopp, and that the manager is very much aware of everything happening with Chirivella during his time away from Melwood.
4 – Pedro Chirivella has scored (2) or assisted (2) four goals, no Go Ahead-player was involved in more goals in 2017. Addition.
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) March 19, 2017
Not only that, but Chirivella will also be back in first-team training with Liverpool when pre-season gets underway.
“I’ve got a contract until 2020. In May I’ll have a month on holiday and the June 1 I’m back in Liverpool with the first team for pre-season. From there, we’ll see what happens.
“Klopp pays close attention to the progression of the young players. It was he who suggested I come to Holland, I know he sees everything that’s going on here and I’m grateful for it.”
“I’m probably in my best moment now, because of the continuity I get from playing every week. At Liverpool I couldn’t have that, it’s not the same playing in the second string as playing for a team fighting for it’s life against relegation.
“When a player feels important is when he’s involved, and here I’m playing all the time.”
Chirivella also alluded to a difficult start to the current campaign, owing to an injury over the summer and the number of experienced players ahead of him available to Klopp in midfield.
Despite not having featured too much thus far, his talents haven’t gone unknown and the former Valencia youth player also acknowledged comparisons of him with Xabi Alonso were rife – but naturally was at pains to point out how far he had to go to reach that level.
“It’s embarrassing, firstly. There’s only one Xabi Alonso. He’s the most complete midfielder in the last few years. I’m only just starting; hopefully I can have the same career he did at Liverpool but that’s all far away right now.”
Chirivella also admitted he was thankful to Brendan Rodgers for handing him his debut in the Europa League last season, though he was surprised to be called upon to replace Kolo Toure and was sat in the dugout without his boots on when the call came to enter the field.
With still another seven matches to play in the Eredivisie, Chirivella and Go Ahead Eagles will be hoping for a strong end to the campaign to lift them off the foot of the table.
They are two points from the relegation play-off places and four points from safety, and if they do manage to escape the drop it will give an enormous confidence boost to Chirivella that he is capable of contributing to something tangible.
In turn, next season might bring its own rewards if the Spaniard brings that capacity to embrace responsibility back to Liverpool and impresses Klopp enough in pre-season to remain involved with the Reds.
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