• Premier League

Ibe proves British talent has what it takes, says Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Jordon Ibe's impressive performance against Everton on Saturday has proved emerging British talent can succeed in the Premier League.

Ibe excelled in an otherwise forgettable Merseyside derby, after returning from a loan spell at Derby County in January, and Rodgers claimed the assured display has giving the 19-year-old a "springboard" to become an important player for Liverpool.

Ibe came close to scoring when his long-range strike hit the post, and his overall performance suggested he has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan in establishing himself in Rodgers' first-team plans.

Jordon Ibe's performance was a 'springboard' for his Liverpool career, according to Brendan Rodgers © PA Photos

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And Rodgers alluded to the impact other home-grown talents have had on their respective clubs, with the likes of Harry Kane and Danny Ings impressing in recent weeks.

"Maybe I have too much belief in young players, but I see enough on day to day to know the character of the player," he said in the Liverpool Echo. "I think there is just part of me that thinks you never know until you throw in a young player and it doesn't matter what the game is.

"If you believe in them enough and they have the tactical awareness of the game and collectively they know the team is with them, it can really push them on in their development. It is easy for me to put an experienced player in, but you look at the talent on show with some of the British boys."

He added: "This is a real, real springboard for Jordon Ibe. He has always showed flashes and come on in games and you have wondered: 'Can he do it?' So to come to Goodison and play like he did, showing that confidence and temperament was outstanding - that will really help his development and push him on."

The Liverpool boss also revealed that he had only told the youngster he was playing the day before the game to prevent anxiety.

"He only found out he was playing on Friday," he said. "I was looking at him when I announced it and, sometimes if you tell them too early, they have all week to worry about it, they don't eat and they don't get their fluids on board.

"We were going to do our tactical play and pattern of work at Anfield so he found out then."

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