It’s no wonder that Kevin Stewart quickly endeared himself to Jurgen Klopp.
Having gone through three separate loan spells since signing for Liverpool in 2014, Stewart was recalled from Swindon Town by the Reds manager when Klopp was just weeks into his new job.
Stewart enjoyed an almost immediate competitive first-team debut when he started for the Reds in an FA Cup tie against Exeter City and Klopp enjoyed the midfielder’s workload so much that Stewart’s streak of loan moves came to an instant end.
And while he’s only made 20 appearances for the club, Stewart’s future is bright and Liverpool tied the 23-year-old down to a long-term deal which will keep him at Anfield until 2020.
Stewart is the perfect Klopp player, with his fitness levels his strongest attribute and that fact was backed up again this week when teammate Joel Matip named Stewart the fittest player at the club.
“Kev Stewart,” Matip answered when asked for the Reds player with the best gas tank. “I don’t know where he gets the power but he can run the whole time and I think he’ll never stop.”
The Q & A with Matip, who has returned to the Liverpool first team after injury and a lengthy dispute with the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), produced a number of introducing answers and a fascinating insight into the club dressing room.
Below are the highlights of the interview, via the Liverpool Echo.
Best friend? “I have no special mate but I think the language always helps. Dejan (Lovren), Loris (Karius), Emre (Can), Ragnar (Klavan). I always come and speak to them, I try to improve my language, it will be better if people understand me but sometimes I’m not so sure.”
Most talented? “Daniel (Sturridge) and Coutinho. If you see them with the ball you don’t have to say something, everybody knows they’re amazing.”
Hardest player? “There’s a lot of hard players but also Dejan.”
Most likely to become TV pundit? “Henderson.”
Best tackler? “Back to Dejan.”
