Liverpool defender Luke Chambers confessed that he was "lost for words" after making his first start for the Reds in their 5-1 Europa League destruction of Toulouse at Anfield.
The 19-year-old completed 67 minutes of that Group E success on the left-hand side of the backline, only a few weeks on from making his debut off the bench in an EFL Cup third-round win over Leicester City.
Chambers was afforded his opportunity by virtue of Andrew Robertson's dislocated shoulder and subsequent operation, which left Kostas Tsimikas as Jurgen Klopp's only senior option at left-back.
With Klopp opting to keep Tsimikas in reserve as the Greece international prepares for regular Premier League starts, Chambers lined up alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in Liverpool's backline, which often came under the cosh against a fearless Toulouse attack.
Nevertheless, Chambers recorded a 77% pass accuracy before being withdrawn midway through the second half, and the Reds academy graduate "loved every minute" of his inaugural Anfield start.
"It's unbelievable. I've dreamt of this moment since I was six years old... to top it off with a win is incredible. I'm lost for words really," the England youth international told TNT Sports.
"We always do the team during training, so I found out yesterday and had a little bit of time with my family at night and then it was a bit of a reality this morning when I woke up. I loved every minute of it."
Chambers also hailed fellow academy graduate and current vice-captain Alexander-Arnold - who wore the armband on Thursday - for paving the way for the club's up-and-coming starlets, adding: "Trent has done what I aspire to do.
"I've come through the Academy. Watching Trent do it gives us lads a stepping stone for us to try to go and recreate it really. I couldn't ask for someone to look up to better. It's amazing."
As well as Chambers's maiden senior start, Klopp brought 18-year-old Calum Scanlon and 19-year-old James McConnell off the bench for their debuts in the second half and took the time to reflect on each player's individual journey to the first team.
"They all deserve it massively. Luke had a long injury. He had a really good year last year in Scotland, was a lot of interest there in the summer but I didn't blink for a second and then I thought, 'Oh come on, let him go.' Because I really think that in the moment our U23s when they are all together, that's a super-strong side and that's important as well. And they train with us," Klopp told his post-game press conference.
"I wouldn't say Luke is in the moment in a top, top, top shape because of the injury and because of another little setback. But we 100 per cent believe in him and trust him, and I wanted to show that tonight.
"On the position the next one is knocking on the door with Calum. Everybody could see a really exciting player, had a few situations where he was maybe too excited, but a real talent, a real talent and a real heart for football.
"And James played a sensational pre-season for us. We gave him a new position, put him on the six, and he did really well there because he's very smart, and he deserves it as well."
Diogo Jota, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez all contributed to Thursday's mauling, although the latter missed an open goal before Gravenberch added number four in the 65th minute.
However, Klopp insisted that he "couldn't care less" about the Uruguay international's howler, as Liverpool moved onto a perfect nine points from nine in Group E, putting them five clear of Toulouse and Union SG.
Back-to-back victories over Toulouse in two weeks' time could seal Liverpool's first-placed finish, prior to which the Reds will pit their wits against Nottingham Forest in Sunday's Premier League battle. body check tags ::
