Jarell Quansah delivers an honest take on Arne Slot’s decision to substitute him at half-time of Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Ipswich Town

Jarell Quansah has revealed how Arne Slot’s decision to substitute him at half-time of Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Ipswich Town last month has given him “a kick up the backside” to regain his focus. And the Reds’ defender outlined his aim to become recognised as one of the finest centre-backs in European football at Anfield in the coming years.

Quansah was selected for the opening game of the campaign as the Reds beat newly-promoted Ipswich at Portman Road on August 17.

But his afternoon lasted just 45 minutes with Slot later admitting he felt the youngster was losing too many individual battles against striker Liam Delap.

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The Warrington-born defender has yet to feature since with the Reds winning all three games so far under Slot in the Premier League but Quansah insists he is not concerned about the lack of playing time at present.

And speaking after earning of a Man-of-the-Match award in England Under-21s’ goalless draw with Northern Ireland on Friday, Quansah opened up on his half-time removal from the Liverpool side that beat the Tractor Boys last month.

“It’s a long season, I have the whole season to prove myself,” Quansah told The Times. “It’s given me a kick up the backside, you could say. I’ll keep grafting on the training pitch and that’s all it is. It’s never a nice feeling as a footballer to be subbed off at half-time but at the end of the day it was the gaffer’s decision and it was the right one.

“The next day he pulled me in. Basically, he just went through his mindset and why he made the decision, ultimately. I think the reasons he gave me were fair enough. It obviously worked because we won, so I can only focus on myself, improve myself, kick forward and move on to the next game. I’m staying ready for whenever it comes.

“It’s always been the goal since I was young, I’ve always wanted to be the best in the world in my position and so I’m striving for that and it doesn’t matter how long it takes, I’m not going to get too disheartened if it’s not 2026 (World Cup), I know what I need to do and hopefully I keep improving. The more and more games I play, it will come and it’s about taking that opportunity.”

Quansah enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last time out under Jurgen Klopp, making 33 appearances in total after being thrust into the senior action in a 2-1 win at Newcastle last August before a full debut arrived 12 months ago at Wolves.

Key to his adaptation has been the help and influence of his centre-back partner Virgil van Dijk, who the 21-year-old explained has been integral to his adjustment at senior level for Liverpool.

Quansah added: “The way Virgil talks you through the game, I’ve never heard anyone like it.

“He might annoy us at times but it’s all for the greater good. With all the experience he has and the situations he’s been in, it’s only fair that he can share his knowledge so we can be the best players we can. I’ll have to be one of the best centre-halves in Europe if I’m starting (for Liverpool).”