Liverpool Clear Sepp van den Berg to Play Against Them in League Cup

When Liverpool take on Preston North End on Wednesday evening in the League Cup, there’s likely to be a familiar face lining up for the opposition after Liverpool confirmed that they have granted permission for Sepp van den Berg to face them.

The 19-year-old Dutch youth international is back with Preston for a second season on loan with the Reds, and has already racked up 17 appearances and more than 1,400 minutes for the Championship side this season playing mostly as a right wingback.

“Of course he should play,” noted Liverpool assistant Pepijn Lijnders, who as usual took pre-match press conference duties for the Reds ahead of a League Cup tie. “It’s like if you want to be a chef then you need to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

“We send our players on loan to get games and then there’s a good game coming, so why not let them play? We want to give young players opportunities and for Sepp it is a big game, one he looks forward to and that’s the most important thing.”

At 6’2”, Van den Berg was signed by Liverpool as a centre half project from PEC Zwolle in the Netherlands in 2019, but his pace has meant most of his minutes so far have come as a fullback or wingback since joining up with Preston last season.

What that means for his longer term development is an open question, but right now the most important thing for a player his age is to get playing time, and that something he’s certainly been getting as a regular starter in the Championship.

“It’s exactly what he needed,” added Lijnders. “He’s young centre half playing a different position but fighting in the Championship. If you can come out of that league you will be ready for a lot so we can’t wait to see him in pre-season next year.”