Danny Ings has been Liverpool’s best player this season, says Jamie Carragher

Since arriving from Turf Moor Ings has been one of the few bright spots of a stuttering season for Liverpool.

“He is someone we followed very closely”, England coach Roy Hodgson said of Ings, who is likely to partner Daniel Sturridge up front in the Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday with Christian Benteke still nursing an injury.

When asked to describe his feelings following the announcement, Ings told the media that he was “in shock” at having got the nod, adding that it “means so much” to both him and his family, and that he hopes he can “build on” from this.

That has been in contrast to the general performance of the team and Thursday’s disappointing 1-1 Europa League draw with.

Before he can turn his attention to a potential first taste of senior global football though, Ings and Liverpool must address the small matter of an eagerly anticipated Merseyside derby away to Everton on Sunday.

He was this week named in the England squad for the first time for the forthcoming European Qualifiers with Estonia and Lithuania.

“You can’t take into account previous games going into that”. It is a huge boost for me as a player and for my career so I’ll take great confidence from that moving forward. These were made even more prominent after he snatched his first two goals for the club in a short space of time, netting against Norwich City and Carlisle United.

“We did a lot of work with him on and off the pitch, with his character, how he is as a person, how he deals with everything, and also work on the pitch, the tactical side, his technical game, and particularly how he’s operating. He is obviously at a high level in his ability to score a goal and he is important for us”, said manager Brendan Rodgers.

“When you know you have that level of player in your team then it helps the rest of the team”.

Has Danny Ings been Liverpool’s best player so far this season?

“I think he would want that”.

Supporters from all 20 Premier League clubs will combine at this weekend’s games to protest about the cost of ticket prices.