Liverpool couldn´t keep Brewster for one or two games a year – Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has explained the decision to let Rhian Brewster leave Liverpool, saying the club want their young stars to thrive, even if it means a move elsewhere.

On Friday, Liverpool sold England youth international Brewster to Sheffield United in a deal that reportedly includes clauses relating to sell-on fees and buyback options.

The 20-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Chelsea in 2015, made just four first-team appearances under Klopp in domestic cup matches.

Brewster suffered a serious ankle injury in 2018 and spent the second half of last season on loan at Swansea City, where he led a Championship promotion push that ended in the play-off semi-finals.

Links to a host of clubs followed ahead of the new season and though Brewster re-joined Klopp’s senior set-up, the manager was reluctant to keep one of the country’s most exciting talents on his bench.

“It’s always like this [putting the player first], honestly,” Klopp told reporters. “If I’m selfish, it never helps really, to be honest.

“I need a player in the right place and the right moment – that means that he’s ready to fight, has all the tools to fight for the position and that the squad gives him the opportunity to fight for the position.

After years of learning & growing at Liverpool the time has come for me to head onto a new chapter. An emotional thank you to everyone at @LFC for their belief and support in me every step of the way, through all the good times and tougher ones as well. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/23tVHcCZH0

— Rhian Brewster (@RhianBrewster9) October 2, 2020

“But especially with a boy like Rhian, you are 100 per cent concerned about his development, 100 per cent.

“This is our own boy – since I arrived, Rhian is here – so there was all his development and unfortunately I was around when he was injured and all these kind of things.

“It’s our boy and, with all the young boys, we don’t keep them here at all costs as a solution for one or two games a year. That’s not how we work.

“If it’s like this, then we always try to find solutions. We want to use these boys on a specific day, but for them, they have to make the right steps in their development.

“Sometimes we are the right place to make these steps. Sometimes we are not. That’s what we have to admit. That’s all.”