Klopp's Brewster prediction finally ringing true a year after Liverpool move

It's been a long, long wait for Rhian Brewster.

The former Liverpool striker was signed by Sheffield United in October 2020 for a club-record fee of £23.5million. However, after a 13-month wait, last Saturday was finally the day when he scored his maiden league goal for the Blades - at the 35th time of asking.

There was plenty of expectation on Brewster's young shoulders as he made the move to what was then a Premier League side, albeit one that had struggled to score goals.

United had lit up the top flight in 2019-20, their first season back after promotion. Chris Wilder's side finished ninth but had threatened to gatecrash the European spots prior to lockdown.

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Despite their fine form, they had scored just 39 times in 38 league games and it was clear more firepower was needed. Brewster was brought in to address that but struggled in a team that was the epitome of one suffering 'second season syndrome' in 2020-21.

United finished rock-bottom of the top flight with Brewster falling out of the side and seemingly low on confidence.

Another slow start this time around in the Championship under new boss Slavisa Jokanovic, with Brewster either starting on the bench or deployed in a wider position, saw plenty of pressure piled on the 21-year-old's shoulders.

There were even suggestions that he could be set for a move away from South Yorkshire, with a loan move to a divisional rival mooted.

But Jokanovic backed his player and that trust was repaid when Brewster lashed home the opener against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend.

The celebration said it all as Brewster gave an outpouring of relief. Sadly, the Blades would concede three times after that opener and the occasion ended in a sobering defeat.

But the quality of the strike showed just what Brewster is capable of - something his former manager knows all too well.

Shortly after sanctioning Brewster's move to United, Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp spoke of his respect for the youngster and also about how goalscoring is in his DNA.

That prediction, after more than a year of having to be patient, might now finally be starting to ring true.

Klopp said: "It would not be possible for me to understate my love, respect and admiration for Rhi.

"Such a special guy on and off the pitch. I'm not going to lie, agreeing to that transfer was really hard.

"He is a natural-born goalscorer. It's in his DNA. He is a coach's dream as he is so eager to learn but also a beacon of positive energy.

"He had some really hard moments with us, but throughout he never once lost belief and he was always someone who would light up a room, even when he experienced really tough times."

Brewster will now be hoping that those tough times are over following his breakthrough strike.

"I am happy to get my first league goal and hopefully there are many more to come," he said.

"It's been a long time coming. I am keeping working hard and I practise finishing and today I have put it in the back of the net with my first touch.

"It's been difficult but I just keep going, keep putting my head down and working hard in training, doing different types of finishing, so if I get that one chance I take it and that's what I am going to keep doing, keep working hard in training.

"It's been tough because the goals haven't flown in for me, but hopefully that's one of many for me.