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Liverpool stars serenade Rhys Williams with two-word nickname after Midtjylland display
Rhys Williams is set for more minutes in the Liverpool first team in the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho.
Liverpool: Klopp reacts to Fabinho injury in Midtjylland victory
Rhys Williams is already highly-respected by the Liverpool first team after making his second Champions League appearance in the space of a week. The 19-year-old now finds himself in the spotlight after Fabinho picked up a hamstring injury against FC Midtjylland.
The teenager made his debut last week in the closing stages of the 1-0 win against Ajax in Amsterdam.
This time around he was on the field for over an hour as Fabinho hobbled off clutching his hamstring.
The Reds are now down to just two recognised senior centre-backs in the form of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
With Matip struggling to prove him fitness, Klopp looks ready to throw in Williams at the deep end.
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He looked right at home though at the heart of the Liverpool defence and his team-mates were clearly impressed by his performance.
Williams took to Instagram after the match to reveal his pride at yet another Champions League appearance.
He wrote: "Delighted To Make Another Champions League Appearance. Great Performance From The Boys, 3 Points And A Clean Sheet To Go With It."
Several Liverpool players serenaded him with a new nickname, which will do his confidence the world of good as he looks to settle into the first team at Anfield.
Goalscorer Diogo Jota wrote: "Big man," accompanied with a clapping emoji.
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Andy Robertson followed suit: "Love it big man."
Xherdan Shaqiri was clearly impressed by Williams' performance too: "Well done big lad."
Liverpool winger Harvey Elliott, who has joined Blackburn Rovers on loan, commented: "Yes big man."
Williams also received praise from Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones and centre-back partner Joe Gomez on the post.
James Milner also gave him a mention in his own Instagram post: "Missed the twelfth man at times tonight, but most important thing was to get the 3 points. Great performance from @rhyswilliams4 when he came on."
Speaking after the game, Klopp conceded he is concerned that the spotlight will be on Williams to perform in the coming weeks.
He said: "Rhys Williams did really well. The only problem we have now is unfortunately we have four days now until the West Ham game and you will make a story about him every day, and he has to prove he can handle that as well!
"He's a talent, he plays for England U20, he's 19 years old. He hasn't played Premier League yet but he has played two Champions League games, won both which is pretty exceptional. He did well, everything looks promising.
"Apart from Rhys, we still have Nat Phillips. We thought he might make a transfer to another club so he is not in the Champions League squad, which is strange, but he is a centre-half as well. Billy the Kid [Koumetio] I am not sure if he can train yet, but he will be back.
"We have very young, inexperienced alternatives, and in the moment it looks like we have to choose one of them. But to be really clear, Rhys was not our problem tonight. He played a really good game."