A domestic Virgil van Dijk replacement may be the Liverpool defender with a pass completion rate of 97%.

In preseason, a Liverpool defender has been drawing attention after having a Virgil van Dijk-like moment.

Young players never have an easy preseason, especially with Jürgen Klopp’s demanding training schedule. The young players must not only step up and compete against more experienced players, but they must also quickly adjust to a new setting and the demands of training.

The fact that these Academy prospects do succeed in preseason and establish their value for Klopp and his coaching staff is what makes it so impressive.

In terms of young players making contributions, Liverpool’s third game of the summer was likely the best so far.

With goals from Bobby Clark and Ben Doak, Liverpool had plenty to be excited about for the future. However, the best and most exciting glimpse may not have been in front of the opposition’s goal, but rather at the other end.

Jarell Quansah, a U20 England international for Liverpool, provided one of the game’s highlights. In the second half, Leicester had a clear shot at goal. Wilfred Ndidi crossed the ball to Patson Daka in the Liverpool penalty area, who appeared to finish the play easily.

However, that impression only lasted for a split second. Aware of the threat, Quansah rushed in front of Daka and spread his body wide to make a brilliant block that kept Liverpool’s first preseason clean sheet and prevented what would have been a certain Leicester goal.

In terms of execution, the scene was almost Virgil van Dijk-like. The Dutchman has become accustomed to making similar last-ditch and goal-preventing blocks at the core of the Reds’ defense over the past few seasons, and Liverpool supporters have grown accustomed to it.

To get there, Quansah still has a ways to go. But in terms of his future, this was encouraging.

Since the days of Jamie Carragher, Liverpool has probably not produced a center-back of the highest caliber in years. Quansah, however, may be the club’s first star product.

He is a calm defender who has displayed solid play in each of his so far in preseason appearances. Even when Liverpool gave up three goals in the second half against Greuther Fürth, it was his more experienced teammates who made the errors that resulted in those goals, with Quansah hardly at fault.

He continued to display the qualities that make him a typical center-back for Klopp against Leicester, finishing 36 of his 37 passes with a completion rate of 97 percent. He continued to produce two of Liverpool’s most crucial passes during preseason, making him the center-back with the most of those.

We don’t yet know what the near future will bring. Liverpool could use a little more depth at center-back, and Europa League play may present opportunities for Quansah to play for the team in competitive games. He is also younger than 21, so he is not required to register and will be considered a homegrown player once he is required to join the squad.

However, borrowing money is a possibility as well. At Bristol Rovers in League One last season, Quansah made an impression under Joey Barton, and he is undoubtedly prepared to establish himself at a higher level.