Danns has become Liverpool’s overnight sensation: or over a week, anyway, bringing a debut, a trophy and then his first two goals, both scored in front of the Kop. As he, and his fellow 18-year-old Lewis Koumas, joined an illustrious group to score for Liverpool in their teens, the comparison his manager reached for was not with Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen, Raheem Sterling or Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Luke Littler, who reached the final of the World Darts Championship at 16.
Eight days earlier, Danns had not even been the most famous footballer in his own family. The speed of his rise will generate intrigue and attention. Klopp’s hope is that others can share his patience. “I understand it 100 per cent but it is a little bit like the new darts sensation, it is fine for tonight,” the Liverpool manager said. “But from tomorrow, leave the boys in the corner, please. And don’t ask: ‘Where are they now? Where are they now? Where are they now?'”
They are not questions Klopp is used to fielding, being quizzed about omitting Danns and Koumas, Bobby Clark and James McConnell. But then the Liverpool supporter who was supposed to see himself on the big screen was Daniel Craig. For Danns, a double against Southampton seemed an out-of-body experience.