InterviewWhy versatility is a virtue for Luca Stephenson

The 21-year-old is back at the Reds and part of Arne Slot’s squad currently on tour in Asia, having enjoyed a highly productive season on loan with Dundee United in 2024-25.

Stephenson had gained minutes under Slot last summer before linking up with the Tangerines and was very pleasantly surprised by the chance for more opportunities to impress the head coach a year on.

“[It was] a little bit [of a surprise], yeah. A little bit,” he told Liverpoolfc.com of his inclusion in a 29-man squad for the trip to Hong Kong and Japan.

“There’s not too many young lads here, it’s more of a senior group. When I came last year, there was a fair few young lads there, whereas this year it’s more senior.

“So, it feels kind of even better to feel like you’re with more senior boys and learning from more senior players.”

Stephenson was speaking immediately after Liverpool finished their first on-pitch training session, on Tuesday morning, since touching down in Hong Kong on Monday.

• 43 photos from Liverpool's Tuesday training session in Hong Kong

And he was blown away by the levels being produced by the Premier League champions.

“Obviously we only arrived yesterday, so [it was] a first session today,” he said.

“I’m made up to be back. I worked hard last season and had a really good loan, so all the hard work last year was worth it to get back on this trip and to get another experience with the boys here.

“The standard is ridiculous. The standard was good in Scotland but this is a new level and they’re at it straight away.

“Even though today’s session was kind of just to get the legs moving after the flight, it was still ridiculously intense and really sharp. The standard was outrageous.”

Stephenson clocked up 34 appearances across all competitions during his spell in Scotland and was used in a raft of different positions en route to being named Dundee United’s Young Player of the Season.

He chipped in with three goals, too.

Comfortable in defensive and midfield roles, adaptability is an attribute he considers only to be a positive.

Stephenson said: “[It] was interesting! But it landed me in good stead because I’ve obviously come back here and played centre-half against Preston, which is not my natural position.

“But I played in so many positions last year, I kind of just got used to learning on the job and doing it. Obviously I had a lot of good lads around me last year, and playing with Joe [Gomez] at centre-back last week against Preston, he just talked me through the game.

“When you’re playing with players like that, it makes it much easier.

“I think it [being versatile] is a good thing, it can only benefit you can’t it really? I think if I couldn’t play in all of those positions, my chances would become more limited and you’re kind of stuck to one position.

“Where I’m kind of in the mindset that if there’s a space at right-back, I’ll play there. If there’s no space at right-back, where is the space and let’s see if I can fill a place.”

For now, Stephenson is just focused on making the absolute most of his involvement at the Reds.

Amid training sessions on tour, a friendly versus AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday will be followed by a meeting with Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan next Wednesday.

• Watch Liverpool's matches in Asia live on All Red Video - full details here

Describing his aims in the short term, he said: “It’s to get as many minutes as I can in pre-season with the team and the games, and then kind of just keep on learning through pre-season.

“These experiences for young players are massively valuable. So, kind of take every session as it comes and keep learning from people.”