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Why Arne Slot was so desperate to keep James McConnell, Liverpool’s ‘dark horse’ who’s ready for the first team at just 20

Related Topics: Arne Slot, Jürgen Klopp

Half-and-half scarves are generally frowned upon by football fans but one family from Morpeth might have good reason to invest in some when Liverpool play Newcastle in next month’s Carabao Cup final.

That is the family of young Reds midfielder, James McConnell, the Geordie boy who could be the next cab off the rank from Liverpool’s illustrious academy. His tight-knit family, including his twin siblings, are lifelong Newcastle fans.

Triplet McConnell, 20, is the hot prospect once described by Jurgen Klopp as ‘absolutely insane’. Arne Slot namechecked him recently as one he will ‘absolutely not’ allow to leave on loan before last week’s January deadline.