Liverpool ace who Jurgen Klopp hailed as 'incredible' is now rock bottom of League Two

A forgotten defender who was hailed by Jurgen Klopp and shone in the Champions League is currently fighting a relegation battle in .

Rhys Williams has endured a dramatic fall from grace since emerging at Liverpool at the start of the decade. He was fast-tracked into the Reds senior squad when they were hit with a string of defensive injuries in the 2020/21 season.

The young centre-back, then aged 19, featured in all six of Liverpool's group stage matches in the Champions League. He was also called upon in the closing stages of the season as the Merseyside giants scraped into the Premier League's top four.

Williams was rewarded with high praise from Klopp, who also lauded fellow Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips for stepping up when it mattered.

"I remember the final game of last season and they left the pitch with a bandage around the head, cuts on their faces, and that was really a symbol for the whole period," said Klopp.

"Hopefully nobody forgot how hard we fought to get here. We felt it mentally. We had no centre-halves, had to play midfielders in the last line, then had to use other players in midfield and nothing worked really.

"In the end, we played with two incredible players - Rhys and Nat - but we couldn't use them earlier because they needed time to adapt. So, yes there was a bit of a point to prove and I'm really happy that the boys did that."

Fast forward three years and Williams is battling it out in League Two, having joined Morecambe on loan until January. They are currently rock bottom of the table after winning just two and drawing four of their opening 15 games.

Williams has spent time on loan at several other lower-league clubs including the likes of Kidderminster Harriers, Blackpool and Port Vale. Last season, he went to Aberdeen but failed to make a single competitive appearance.

The 23-year-old remains tied down at Liverpool until 2026 but a return to the first-team picture under Arne Slot seems unlikely. Only time will tell if he can resurrect his career and deliver on the promise he showed during Klopp's time in charge.

Williams recently told that he was optimistic about succeeding in the longer term, saying: "Trent [Alexander-Arnold] said when I went back to Liverpool after I had been at Port Vale that availability is the best ability in football.

"That really made me realise that as long as you're fit, you're always going to have a chance to get on the grass."