New Liverpool midfielder Arthur Melo has asked to feature for the club’s Under-21 side in a bid to force his way into ’s plans.
Jurgen Klopp resisted the temptation to sign cover for a raft of injured midfielders until he relented on deadline day and secured the services of the Brazil international.
The 26-year-old has made an inauspicious start to his Anfield career, however, and has made only on substitute appearance, in the shambolic 4-1 defeat at Napoli, so far.
Reports in Italy earlier this week suggested that Liverpool have been so unimpressed with Arthur that they were prepared to send him back to his parent club in January.
According to the , however, Liverpool have no such plan and the player himself is determined to force his way into Klopp’s midfield engine room.
Arthur was by no means alone in delivering a sub-par performance in Naples and is said to have held frank discussions with Liverpool’s coaching staff following that display.
The former Barcelona conceded he was not anywhere close to being 100% match fit but double training sessions and extra gym work have helped him make up ground in recent days.
Indeed, Liverpool staff were so pleased with his application that Klopp and his coaches congratulated him after a session early last week.
‘Arthur needs now just football – and training, especially, that’s how it is,’ said Klopp recently.
‘He wasn’t in team training for a while at Juve, so he needs proper team training and that’s what we are doing with him.
‘Can he play minutes? Yes. Should he play a full game? No, because he needs to get used to the intensity in each competition.
‘It’s not like in the Champions League you have to work less than in the Premier League. Not at all, especially not here.
‘He is doing well, he is really giving his absolute all in training, we have to be careful with him as well and then we will see whether we can use him.’
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