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Liverpool starlet Rhys Williams was bullied, concussed and had his nose broken in non-league, but 6ft 5in 'baby-face' battled back to become a 'towering centre back' Jurgen Klopp can depend upon

Liverpool's young defender Rhys Williams had a brutal introduction to men's football during his season-long loan at Kidderminster Harriers, but it was the making of him, according to the man who coached him in non-league football.

Russ Penn, who was assistant manager with the Harriers last season while Williams, 19, was on loan with the West Midlands outfit in National League North, describes a baptism of fire for the Preston-born youngster, whom he calls 'baby face'.

Penn is stunned that just six months since he left the Aggborough Stadium, Williams is playing for Liverpool, in the Champions League, first for a brief cameo at Ajax and then for an hour at Anfield on Tuesday after replacing the injured Brazilian Fabinho in their 2-0 win against FC Midtjylland in Group D.