Liverpool boss Rodgers: Jordon Ibe can be top class

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has suggested that Jordon Ibe has the potential to become a “top-class performer” in the years to come.

The teenager made 12 appearances for Liverpool last season following his loan move from Derby County, where he scored five goals in just 20 Championship outings. Impressively, he then continued that form at Anfield, after returning to the Reds for the final months of our campaign – making 14 appearances in all competitions.

So far in pre-season, the 25-year-old midfielder has looked a natural at it, handling the pressure of becoming the face of the club on its pre-season tour of Australia and Southeast Asia and looking amongst the best players in the early going.

“It’s year-on-year improvement”, he told the club’s official website.

“We mustn’t forget he’s still only 19”.

The manager admitted that he had had the decision in his mind last season after Gerrard announced he would be leaving for Los Angeles Galaxy, and said he aimed to find a “great ambassador on and off the field” due to the “huge responsibility for the players and the supporters on a worldwide basis”.

There is of course, the issue of the backroom staff as Rodgers felt he needed to change things after a disappointing season, which led to the departures of Mike Marsh and Colin Pascoe – with Sean O’Driscoll and Gary McAllister among those joining the coaching staff – though it is unclear as to whether the changes came about quite how Shearer describes them. Despite the prospect of him battling with Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic for his place in the team, the Northern Irishman is confident that he’ll deliver.

“He’s definitely a player that we want to really create into a top-class performer, but we’ve got to give him that time and we’re creating the environment for him to do that”. He’s had a flawless role model in Stevie, he’s been on the shoulder of Stevie for a year to see how it all works and he’ll have picked up a lot from him.

He added that Henderson is “an outstanding player” who will “blossom with the captaincy”.