Competition have youth contributors that Tottenham do not

By Aaron Coe | May 10, 2021

Tottenham Hotspur's Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on May 2, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by SHAUN BOTTERILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 16: Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur passes the ball. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

Liverpool forced to bleed the young

The injuries this season have forced Liverpool into giving some minutes to some young players that otherwise may not have gotten them. Rhys Williams (20) in particular has benefitted from the injury to Virgil Van Dijk. The 15 matches and nearly 1,000 minutes Williams has received would likely not have happened had Van Dijk not been injured. Additionally, Ozan Kabak, only 21, has played more than 1100 minutes.

However, the kids covering for Van Dijk are not the only young players getting big minutes. Curtis Jones has played more than 1800 minutes in the Liverpool midfield and Neco Williams has played more than 700 minutes at right-back – both are only 20. Additionally, three other teenagers, Harvey Elliott, Billy Koumetio, and Leighton Clarkson have seen minutes this season.