Liverpool fans may well be drawn to Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram if watching France at the under-21s European Championships, though there is one other player who may catch the eye.
The Reds are admirers of both Kone and Thuram as they look to strengthen their midfield department and the pair will be looking to further raise their reputation while competing at the tournament. Both players started Les Blues' opening group stage win against Italy, though could only settle for a place on the bench for their following match versus Norway.
One individual who did, however, feature from the start of this contest was none other than Yasser Larouci - a left-back released by Liverpool in 2021. The 22-year-old made the move to Merseyside in 2017, moving from the fabled Le Harve youth system in favour of a transfer to England.
It was not until the summer of 2019 when Liverpool fans were able to witness the defender in action for the first-team, starring in pre-season friendlies both in England and abroad as Jurgen Klopp got a closer look at the Frenchman.
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Regrettably, this valuable experience ended on sour note for Larouci after being on the receiving end of a nasty challenge during a 3-2 defeat by Sevilla in America. Advancing towards the opposition penalty area with the ball at his feet, the Liverpool left-back was wiped out by Joris Gnagnon, who was shown a straight red card and prompted furious reactions from those representing the Reds on the pitch.
Forced off on a stretcher after receiving lengthy treatment, Larouci later left the stadium on crutches with his right leg in a brace to end his pre-season earlier than anticipated. Tensions began to rise early on in this heated affair, with Ever Banega booked early on for the Spanish side and later avoiding a dismissal despite catching Harry Wilson with a stray arm. Diego Carlos also entered the referee's book before half-time as the theme of ill-discipline continued.
Virgil van Dijk headed straight over to Gnagnon at the full-time whistle to made his feelings clear over what he had witnessed before telling the ECHO and other journalists in attendance: "To put in a tackle like that, especially on a young player who has been doing so well in pre-season, I think it says something about him." James Milner, meanwhile, told LFCTV: "There were some disgraceful tackles. We know it was a friendly but you don’t see many red cards in a friendly. If you want to foul, pull a shirt. Don’t take a young lad by the knee. Seeing it again it is a disgrace.”
Providing his take on the events that unfolded, Klopp said: “Let me say how the situation is with Yasser; it looks like he was lucky but, of course, how it always is with these things we have to wait a little bit. He couldn’t keep on playing, so that’s the first not-so-good sign but in the dressing room it was okay, similar how it looks to Harry [Wilson]. Harry got a knock on his jaw and a finger in his eye, so not too cool. He should be okay as well but couldn’t carry on as well. That’s the situation.
“He hit him full throttle and, in that moment, (if it was) a little bit different position where he hit him then it’s done. He rolls... he is a sports boy so that was okay, nothing happened there. I don’t know 100%. It looks like he was lucky but I only spoke quickly to the doc and that’s what he said, but but we have to see.”
An apology was issued the following day by Gnagnon as he attempted to clear the air, in which he stated: “I want to publicly apologise to Liverpool, the player’s family and fans. It was an odious act on my part that had no place on the football pitch. All my prayers are with the player and his family.”
Larouci would go on to make a full recovery from this incident and was one of a number of players who made their first-team debut in an unforgettable FA Cup third-round win over Everton in January 2020. He was then trusted to start the fourth-round tie away at Shrewsbury Town, which ended as a 2-2 draw.
Such opportunities were not forthcoming the following campaign, failing to earn a single minute of senior in Klopp's side before leaving the club upon the expiration of his contact at the end of 2020/21. A new deal had been put forward to the youngster, though he chose to reject this before later explaining his reasons in an Instagram post.
"Playing regularly has always been my principal objective," he said. I decided against extending my contract at Liverpool as it was clear that there would be limited opportunities to play regularly in the first team in the immediate future. It is important nevertheless to acknowledge the support I received at the club particularly from Jurgen Klopp who was pivotal in me taking my first steps as a professional."
Snapped up by Troyes during the summer of 2021, Larouci was given the opportunity to prove himself in Ligue 1 and may well have added to his 12 appearances had it not been for injury issues. Last season he turned out 30 times for his current employers, though could not prevent the club from suffering relegation after finishing 19th in the French first division.
