Darius Bazley has heard the question.

It's almost always the first thing anyone wants to ask the rookie.

"You get some people here and there they'll just ask you about it, 'Yo, like how was it not going to college?'" Bazley told ESPN recently. "I know when I was going through the whole pre-draft process traveling from team to team before we'd go out and work out [the other players would] all be talking about college. And someone would pop up and say 'Well, how was it, just sitting out?'"

It was a little more than a year ago when Bazley decided to forgo a scholarship at Syracuse for a potential path to the NBA via the G League. He then opted to skip the G League as well to instead focus on preparing for the draft.

Bazley isn't the first player in the one-and-done era to bypass the traditional college route before entering the NBA. But the Oklahoma City Thunder forward did something almost entirely unprecedented. After his brief flirtation with joining the G League, Bazley signed an endorsement deal with New Balance that included a one-year internship with the Boston-based sneaker company.

During that year, when he wasn't working out at the company's facility in preparation for his eventual jump into the draft, he was immersing himself in the business side of basketball. He spent time working directly with multiple divisions at New Balance, ranging from marketing to apparel to product testing. He was involved in the design process as New Balance built its first basketball performance shoe since the late 2000s, and got an up-close look at the manufacturing process at New Balance's factory.

While some endorsers get a taste of that with their sneaker companies, Bazley got far more up-close experience, not just getting a tour on a quick visit, but having the opportunity to spend days sitting in meetings, doing product testing and contributing in meaningful ways beyond just picking a sneaker he liked.

In true 21st century NBA fashion, Bazley also got to learn about building a personal brand from New Balance's digital and social teams, even using his Instagram account to provide insight into what his internship was like.

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Episode 2! Lawrence was really cool and so was being hooked in the sports lab! (Peep my AirPods?)

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But with New Balance, Bazley wasn't just learning, he was teaching as well, giving New Balance's product team insight into what young players want. He had a direct hand in designing the player exclusive colorways he'll be wearing this season, coming up with the "Fresh Prince"-inspired colorway that he wore at the draft combine. He also designed an exclusive edition of the New Balance 997 and helped pick out the additional items that were in the seeding kit sent to members of the media.

"We found not only a great partner in Darius and someone who wanted to treat this very seriously and do this for real," said Patrick Cassidy, New Balance's global director of consumer marketing. "So we worked pretty hard to make sure that this was an actual thing. And to Darius' credit he went all in on it."

Now that Bazley has transitioned fully from "intern" to "endorser," Cassidy's goal is for his former intern to be "the most knowledgeable, insightful athlete in the game about the shoe industry and how things are made and developed and get on the feet of elite athletes and what the industry is like." But for Bazley, the internship went far beyond just basketball and shoes.

"The main thing I really took away from that is just learning how to be professional," he said. "That was my first job ever so having to go into work and being in an office space with a lot of middle-aged people -- you got to learn to be professional. You got to learn to communicate with different people."

Bazley is now moving on to his second job ever, forward for the Thunder. It's a job that has already seen its description change, thanks to Oklahoma City's offseason trades of Paul George and Russell Westbrook. While Bazley won't have the opportunity to learn from George, his relationship with his own agent gave him access to one of the most sought-after mentors in the NBA: LeBron James.

Throughout his year away from organized basketball, Bazley had multiple conversations with James, though the topic rarely focused on basketball itself.

"It's more like -- we're at Top Golf or something and we're just having a good time stuff like that," Bazley said. "Sometimes you don't even have to have a one-on-one. You can just sit down and listen. If you listen more than you speak, you'll learn a lot. And with my situation, I was lucky enough to be around greatness every day."

The Thunder are hoping some of that greatness will rub off on Bazley as he joins a suddenly rebuilding team led -- for the time being -- by another member of James' inner circle, Chris Paul. Bazley got off to a delayed start with the Thunder this summer, as he'd been officially drafted by the Utah Jazz, then had to wait to make his Las Vegas Summer League debut as a backlog of agreed-upon trades got processed in a particular order.

"His ability to handle the ball at his size is really, really unique, and defensively he's got great range for a young player at that size, as well," Thunder GM Sam Presti said. "It's going to be a process with him. We'll have to be patient. We understand that. But at that range of the draft, to be able to get a player that has those ball-handling skills at 6-foot-9 is pretty unique."

Bazley was able to show off some of those skills in Las Vegas, but the initial steps of his transition to the NBA game were not without difficulties. Having not played in a formal setting since the 2018 McDonald's All-America Game, Bazley looked rusty in his Thunder debut, going scoreless and attempting just two shots. However, he showed steady improvement in his four summer league outings, eventually putting up 11 points and making 3-of-5 3-point attempts in OKC's final game of the summer.

Because of the Thunder's roster turnover, Bazley has a unique opportunity to contribute in OKC as a rookie. Last season, the Thunder's four rookies combined to play just 769 minutes, ranking 19th in the NBA. The last rookie to be a regular part of the Thunder rotation was Domantas Sabonis, who started 66 games for OKC in 2016-17. The last Thunder rookie before Sabonis to play at least 20 minutes per game in his first season was James Harden all the way back in 2008-09.

Bazley might not hit that 20-minute-per-night milestone, but he's excited for the opportunity to prove himself.

As Bazley begins to adjust to the NBA game, he does so with no regrets on how he got there. He knows that people will always question his decision to skip college and the G League, but he is appreciative of the route he chose and the work it took to get him through.

While his path took him away from organized basketball for a year, it also gave him an early start on the off-court transition to being a professional. He learned much-needed skills like money management and communication, and said he feels better prepared for the adversity that every NBA rookie faces.

"There's going to be times where you hit a roadblock in the league where you're not getting the minutes you wanted or say you're injured and you're not able to play and you don't know how to handle that," he said. "I do."

Bazley said he doesn't feel any added pressure to succeed to prove that his path to the NBA works, but he already has people following in his footsteps in one way or another. RJ Hampton, a projected top-10 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, has chosen to bypass college, though he'll play professionally in Australia's National Basketball League. He also has already landed a sneaker endorsement deal with Li-Ning, a year earlier than his high school classmates who attended college will be able to. And high school senior MarJon Beauchamp has announced his intention to skip college next year and enter a 12-month training program to prepare for the 2021 draft.

But Rich Paul, Bazley's agent, said players looking to take this path can't be doing it solely for the money. Just like it was for Bazley, it has to be with a bigger goal in mind.

"For those chosen few that decide to take another route, there's an alternate route, but the steps are very, very strategic and you have to embrace the process," he said. "It can't be about anything besides 'I'm willing to do the work and position myself to take on the challenge that I have ahead.' And if you do that you tend to reside on the side of success."

ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin and Royce Young contributed to this story.

Jakob, Filip and Henrik hope to help Eliud Kipchoge break two hours for the marathon in Vienna in October

Famous running brothers Jakob, Filip and Henrik Ingebrigtsen have been confirmed as part of the pacemaking team for Eliud Kipchoge’s INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna this October.

In a recent interview, world marathon record-holder Kipchoge described breaking the two-hour barrier for the 26.2-mile event as “like the first man to go to the moon” and so far eight athletes have been announced as being part of the ‘pacemaking family’ which will hope to help the Kenyan to achieve it.

READ MORE: Eliud Kipchoge shoots for the stars

Last year, aged just 17, Jakob won both 1500m and 5000m titles at the European Championships and this autumn the Norwegian – who will then be 19 – will be the youngest of Kipchoge’s pacemakers, 25 years younger than USA’s Bernard Lagat who at 44 years old will be the oldest.

“To be a teenager and to be part of this project is really amazing,” said Jakob. “As a family we are used to running together and to be able to run together, alongside other great athletes to help Eliud Kipchoge try to break two hours will be something very special.”

READ MORE: Eliud Kipchoge targets sub-two-hour marathon in INEOS 1:59 Challenge

Filip added: “Kipchoge was so close last time he tried at Breaking2 and he has improved since then.

“If he is in the sort of form he was in when he broke the world record in Berlin last year – and with three hares flying in from Norway to help – I expect there to be a record.”

Joining the ‘three hares’ will be Lagat, Kenyans Augustine Choge and Victor Chumo and Australians Jack Rayner and Brett Robinson.

Further pacemakers are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

BARRE, Vt. — Matt White barreled to his first Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl win in more than two years by taking the Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Model victory on Thursday night.

White dove underneath Washington’s Ricky Roberts for the lead early in the 50-lap feature and never let go of the top spot.

The veteran bounced back from a last-place finish the week before by making a bold move to get out front. White was running third when the event’s only caution flew on lap five for an incident involving Tyler Cahoon.

On the restart, White got a huge bite off turn two, along him to drive inside both polesitter Ricky Roberts and runner-up Brendan Moodie. White completed the pass a lap later to take over the point.

From there, no one could touch White. A lengthy duel eventually developed for second that included Boomer Morris, Jason Corliss, Cody Blake, and Kyle Pembroke. When Corliss had to back off after trying the inside line of second on lap 30, Blake jumped to the outside, and he found the bite that Corliss had been unable to get earlier.

Blake eventually cleared Morris for the second spot himself with 15 laps to go. But White was long gone by then, taking his seventh late model win by more than a straightaway.

Barre’s Blake finished second with Morris taking his first podium of the year in third. Corliss held off a late bid from Kyle Pembroke to finish fourth and unofficially retain the points lead.

Brandon Lanphear continued his second-half hot streak by grabbing his first feature win of the year in the Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Flying Tigers. Lanphear charged from 12th on the starting grid to third just past halfway in the 40-lap feature but was more than a straightaway behind leader Cooper Bouchard.

However, Kevin Streeter ended up in the turn-three wall to bring out the second caution on lap 24, which allowed the field to close up.

Lanphear got past Colin Cornell for second just before Cornell spun on lap 26 to bring out the third caution. After another yellow when Brian Delphia got turned around on the restart, Bouchard and Lanphear went at it for seven laps before Lanphear was able to complete the pass for the lead. Just seconds later, Bouchard broke a wheel, coming to a halt in turn four and drawing yet another yellow.

The sixth and final caution on lap 35 for a three-car incident set up a battle to the checkers between Lanphear and rookie Stephen Martin. The two locked horns and swapped the lead multiple times before Lanphear got clear on the final lap for the win.

Martin finished second and unofficially took over the points lead from Jason Woodard, who got nipped at the line by Barre’s Jason Pelkey for third.

Keegan Lamson roared to his first career Thunder Road victory in the 25-lap Allen Lumber Street Stock feature. The 14-year-old got the jump on polesitter Royce Lussier at the drop of the green to take the lead. Tanner Woodard followed him to second and soon began to apply the pressure as the two walked away from the field.

Kasey Beattie eventually broke out of the pack and caught the two leaders with nine laps remaining in the caution-free event. But try as they might, neither Woodard nor Beattie could find a way around Lamson as the rookie earned the victory.

Woodard and Beattie, a pair of 15-year-olds, took second and third.

Juan “Paco” Marshall also became a first-time winner in the Marvin Johnson Memorial. Marshall started sixth in the 19-lap event and suddenly found himself in second after a multi-car backstretch tangle on the second circuit.

The sophomore competitor then got the jump over Royce Lussier on the restart and held off East Kingston, NH’s Bryan P. Wall through two more restarts, including one for Derek Farnham’s head-on trip into the frontstretch wall, to claim the victory. Wall finished second followed by Kasey Collins.

Brian Putney capped the night with his second win of the year in the Burnett Scrap Metal Road Warriors. Putney pulled away from the field following two early cautions. Berlin’s Haidyn Pearce started to reel Putney in down the stretch, but Putney had enough to hold on for the win.

Pearce earned his first career podium result with a second-place finish.

URBANA, Mo. – Ryan Gustin earned the 100th victory of his career in United States Modified Touring Series competition on Thursday night at Dallas County Speedway.

Gustin had to fend off a determined Dereck Ramirez in the inaugural Bullring Bash, with Gustin beating Ramirez in a photo finish.

“That was one heck of a race,” Gustin said in victory lane. “I thought he (Ramirez) took it away from us, but we gave each other a lane and always race each other clean.

“I wasn’t sure we were going to get number 100 this year or not,” Gustin said. “It’s a milestone, man, and it feels good. Looking forward to tomorrow.”

The winner never had a moment to rest as action was constant from the front of the field back.

From the pole position, Terry Phillips took charge at the drop of the green flag and ran the low line while Gustin churned the loose clay lining the long way around the track.

The lead duo found the back of the pack by lap 12 and Gustin was able to squeak by to lead for the first time on lap 18 just before a caution flag waved and let everybody catch their breath.

Phillips continued to challenge Gustin for the lead for the next 10 laps until the two made contact in turn four and Phillips wound up smacking a yuke tire near the exit of the corner.

Another yellow flag waved as Phillips saw his night come to an end, and on the restart Marriott followed Gustin but Ramirez stuck his nose underneath and claimed the second position.

The final 10 laps were intense as Gustin and Ramirez raced wheel-to-wheel lap after lap while four more cautions slowed the pace.

The final caution waved with three laps to go, and Ramirez edged in front of Gustin at the flagstand to lead lap 38 and again the next time around as they drag-raced beneath USMTS flagman Ryne Staley’s white flag.

The pair exited the final corner door to door as they raced to the checkered. Despite sending a shower of sparks off of the front-stretch concrete wall, Gustin nipped Ramirez by less than five one-hundredths of a second.

“This is a small deal, it’s elbows up,” Gustin added. “It doesn’t matter what you do to your car, you just have to get up on the wheel at these small little places and get after it.”

The win was worth $2,500 to the 28-year-old from Marshalltown, Iowa.

For Ramirez, it was his fifth runner-up finish in seven races during the Casey’s Hunt for the USMTS National Championship while Marriott, Rodney Sanders and Dean Wille completed the top five.

The finish:

Ryan Gustin, Dereck Ramirez, Hunter Marriott, Rodney Sanders, Dean Wille, Jake O’Neil, Jason Pursley, Terry Schultz, Stephen Muilenburg, Colson Kirk, Travis Saurer, Mike Striegel, Mickey Burrell, Mark Simon, Joe Duvall, Chris Clark, Jimmy Ray, Greg Skaggs, Terry Phillips, Adam Kates, Lance Mari, Austin Siebert, Ed Griggs, Tyler Wolff.

LOCUST GROVE, Ark. — Chris Madden continued his recent hot streak by winning Thursday night’s opener at Batesville Motor Speedway.

The win marks his third consecutive trip to victory lane in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition. Madden survived a battle with Brandon Overton to score the victory on night one of the COMP Cams Topless 100 – Presented by Nutrien Ag Solutions.

Madden was unchallenged other than when he slid up the track after a lap 19 restart and Overton forged ahead on lap 21. Overton slid up the track a lap later which allowed Madden to get back by him and go on for the victory, his 11th career Lucas Oil Late Model Late Model Dirt Series win.

Madden; the 44-year-old South Carolina native; started alongside polesitter Mike Marlar on the front row for the 30-lap main event. Madden bolted to the lead at the drop of the green with Marlar going to the second position.

Those two were joined by Overton and Davenport in lapped traffic as a four-car battle for the race lead was developing until a caution for fifth-place running Tyler Erb slowed the field.

After losing the lead for just one lap, Madden managed to regain his momentum and powered his way to the victory. Overton crossed the finish line in second with Madden’s teammate, Scott Bloomquist finishing in third. Jimmy Owens and Jonathan Davenport completed the top five.

“We were bottoming out getting into one. We shoved the nose across the center, and we got hung up in the fluff,” Madden said.. “It opened the door for Brandon. We gathered it back together and made a good corner in three and four. Right now going through the race I am wondering what we are hurting in this race and what we need to maintenance the car for tomorrow night’s race. We don’t want something to bite us that we overlooked tonight for Saturday’s big race.”

Overton, who was seeking his fifth Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory was in the hunt the entire race.

“As soon as he [Madden] pushed up the race track we were able to get by him,” Overton said. “Then I went down there and did the same thing. I just got a little choppy and if you let it roll in there it would sit down for a little bit. Chris has the best car in the country right now so congratulations to him.”

Bloomquist ended up on the podium after starting in fifth.

“Definitely this car is on track now. We can race now. I felt like we were holding our own out there. We might have to tweak it little bit more. We have got a different car under me now. It is great to see Chris winning. It’s great to know our cars are good right now. We just have to keep working hard and we will be fine.”

The finish:

Chris Madden, Brandon Overton, Scott Bloomquist, Jimmy Owens, Jonathan Davenport, Josh Richards, Hudson O’Neal, Mike Marlar, Earl Pearson Jr., Tony Jackson Jr., Devin Moran, Billy Moyer, Neil Baggett, Tim McCreadie, Billy Moyer Jr., Michael Norris, Austin Rettig, Jack Sullivan, B.J. Robinson, Timothy Culp, Tyler Erb, Logan Martin, Shannon Babb, Mason Oberkramer.

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — Matt Sheppard raced from third starting position to snatch the $10,000-to-win Battle on the Midway 100 at Orange County Fair Speedway Thursday night.

In his tracks, Ryan Godown fought off red hot runner Erick Rudolph to secure his best Series finish and a guaranteed starting spot in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200 at NAPA Super DIRT Week XLVIII.

Sheppard parked his big-block modified in victory lane among hundreds of his swarming fans. Once out of the car, he hoisted the VP Race Fuels checkered flag high above his head and pumped his fist in a blizzard of confetti celebrating the $10,000 payday.

Sheppard’s car was on rails.

“This thing was really good tonight,” he said. “We went to our Central New York setup,” which due to the new slick and smooth surface at Orange County, proved to be part of the winning formula.

“Our car was so good on the bottom I was afraid to go around the outside of guys [lapped cars]. That’s how Ryan [Godown] lost the lead,” said Sheppard who passed Godown for the lead at the quarter mark of the race.

The win marks his seventh series victory in 2019 but he knows the competition is close behind.

“The series points are getting down the end of the season. Erick [Rudolph] has been close all year,” noted Sheppard.

Ryan Godown, driver of the yellow No. 26 machine, is now the clear favorite for rookie of the year. He started on the front row and never gave an inch. Only Sheppard managed to pass him but Godown held off championship contender Erick Rudolph to claim second.

“It feels unbelievable. We’ve been running 10th to 15th all year and we couldn’t seem to get on track. We’ve changed it up here and there the last couple weeks and it’s starting to get a little better. For me it’s just unbelievable right now,” Godown said.

Rudolph and his team are putting up a tremendous mid-season push for his first series championship.

“We didn’t start the season out how we needed to, a bunch of DNFs, a bunch of poor performances, but starting late June and all through July and into August we’ve been really putting in excellent efforts,” Rudolph explained.

Late in the race, Rudolph had a few chances to overtake Godown.

He said, “I think I was a little bit better than Godown, especially at the end of the race. Sheppard was out a little ways. We might have had something in lapped traffic for him.”

Sheppard was fast off the trailer. He was the quickest in hot laps, picked up the Billy Whittaker Cars Fast-Time Award, won his heat race, and of course, took the feature win.

The finish:

Feature (100 laps): 1. 9S-Matt Sheppard [3][$10,000]; 2. 26-Ryan Godown [2][$5,000]; 3. 25-Erick Rudolph [7][$3,000]; 4. 91-Billy Decker [6][$2,750]; 5. 20-Brett Hearn [8][$2,500]; 6. 1P-Billy Pauch [10][$2,250]; 7. 21A-Peter Britten [1][$2,000]; 8. 27j-Danny Johnson [17][$1,750]; 9. 3w-Mat Williamson [9][$1,500]; 10. 98H-Jimmy Phelps [12][$1,400]; 11. 5H-Chris Hile [14][$1,300]; 12. 18D-Billy Dunn [16][$1,200]; 13. 35-Mike Mahaney [28][$1,150]; 14. 99L-Larry Wight [34][$1,100]; 15. 18s-Tim Sears [23][$1,050]; 16. 42p-Pat Ward [19][$1,000]; 17. 66-Tom Meier [22][$975]; 18. 111-Demetrios Drellos [25][$950]; 19. R2-Rusty Smith [36][$425]; 20. 37-Paul StSauveur [35][$900]; 21. 17-Marcus Dinkins [37][$375]; 22. 44-Anthony Perrego [21][$850]; 23. 43H-Jimmy Horton [4][$825]; 24. 17Z-Brian Krummel [11][$800]; 25. 4v-Billy VanInwegen [20][$775]; 26. 35L-LJ Lombardo [5][$750]; 27. 4-Andy Bachetti [15][$725]; 28. 6D-Dillon Steuer [13][$700]; 29. 16x-Daniel Creeden [29][$675]; 30. 7-Rick Laubach [32][$650]; 31. 93X-Craig Mitchell [31][$625]; 32. 69-Tyler Boniface [30][$500]; 33. 19-Tim Fuller [18][$500]; 34. 126-Jeffery Strunk [27][$500]; 35. 3p-Billy Pauch [33][$500]; 36. 244-Chris Whitehead [24][]; 37. 2L-Jack Lehner [26][]

FAIRBURY, Ill. — Adding his second POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League victory on Thursday night, Zeb Wise wheeled the Clauson-Marshall Racing Driven 2 Save Lives, Spike/SR-11 No. 39bc to the win on Thursday night at Fairbury American Legion Speedway.

Starting second, Wise took the green flag alongside PAC Racing Springs High Point Man Thomas Meseraull. Sliding across turns one and two in front of Wise, Meseraull made an immediate bid for control of the lead, but Wise was too quick with the crossover as he snuck down and drove back by the No. 7x to lead the opening circuit.

Heading straight for the cushion, Wise rocketed away in the early stages as his Clauson-Marshall teammate, Tyler Courtney, made his way into the second spot with a pass on Meseraull.

While Courtney set his sights on Wise out front, Logan Seavey was the hard charger storming through the field aboard his Keith Kunz-Curb Agajanian Motorsports, Mobil 1, Bullet/Toyota No. 67.

Catching Wise with six laps left, Courtney was within striking distance and set himself up to attack his teammate for command of the top spot. Tossing a slider as they came to the five to go signal, Courtney cleared Wise, but was quickly relegated back to second as the caution flag waved for Thomas Meseraull.

Restarting with six to go, Wise led the field back to green fully aware of Courtney’s presence behind him. Another caution on the 27th circuit for Maria Cofer lined the field up for one final restart as Wise led Courtney and a rocket-fast Seavey.

Expecting a challenge for the lead, Wise received nothing in the final three laps as Courtney’s hands were too full with an exchange of sliders from Seavey. While those two fought head to head, Wise snuck away and drove the No. 39bc to victory, marking his second POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League win.

Seavey chased Wise to the line, capping an impressive 14th-to-second charge aboard his No. 67. Courtney rounded out the podium in third with Tanner Thorson and Zach Daum closing out the top five.

The finish:

Feature (30 Laps): 1. 39BC-Zeb Wise (2); 2. 67-Logan Seavey (14); 3. 17BC-Tyler Courtney (3); 4. 98-Tanner Thorson (12); 5. 5D-Zach Daum (4); 6. 88-Robert Dalby (6); 7. 27-Tucker Klaasmeyer (17); 8. 71-Jesse Colwell (5); 9. 71K-Tanner Carrick (9); 10. 08-Cannon McIntosh (19); 11. 28-Ace McCarthy (22); 12. 21KS-C.J. Leary (13); 13. 9-Daison Pursley (20); 14. 67K-Holley Hollan (8); 15. 86C-David Camfield (21); 16. 47BC-Andrew Layser (10); 17. 97K-Jesse Love (15); 18. 21MC-Maria Cofer (16); 19. 7X-Thomas Meseraull (1); 20. 3N-Jake Neuman (18); 21. 3B-Shelby Bosie (11); 22. 91T-Tyler Thomas (7).

Liverpool are facing a goalkeeping crisis ahead of the Premier League trip to Southampton after Adrian was injured by a supporter during the UEFA Super Cup celebrations in midweek.

The Spaniard, who was a hero in the 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Chelsea after saving Tammy Abraham's penalty to clinch the win, has a swollen ankle caused by the fan sliding into him after trying to evade security at Vodafone Park in Istanbul.

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Jurgen Klopp, who is already without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson due to a calf issue, revealed it is not "100 percent clear" whether Adrian can feature at St Mary's.

"When we were all together, a supporter jumped over, was chased by some security guys, slipped and kicked his ankle," Klopp told a news conference. "Crazy! Yesterday it was swollen and today I spoke to him and he said it's much better, but we have to see.

"He couldn't have played directly after we landed in Liverpool, but I saw him now he's better."

Adrian was unexpectedly drafted into action during the first half of the 4-1 win over Norwich on the opening day of the Premier League season after Alisson limped off.

The former West Ham keeper -- recruited as a free agent on Aug. 5 -- wasn't afforded time to settle before featuring, but Klopp saluted the player's "big personality."

Andy Lonergan, who trained with Liverpool during their preseason tour of the United States, was signed on a short-term deal as experienced cover earlier this week with highly rated young keeper Caoimhin Kelleher shaking off a wrist injury.

Asked if Lonergan or the 20-year-old could start against Southampton, Klopp said: "If we have to make a decision, then we make a decision.

"Caoimhin is a boy we are all excited about. He's now in training, but not 100 percent yet. He has to be in training today, then we will see."

Meanwhile, Naby Keita will sit out the game due to a hip muscle injury, which Klopp labelled minor but could not put a time frame on the midfielder's return.