Rodgers hail youngstars after Merseyside derby

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers praised the composure of his young players in the heat of a Merseyside derby which failed to fully ignite at Goodison Park.

Reds boss Rodgers made a big call to name young winger Jordon Ibe in the starting line-up, but the youngster’s man-of-the-match performance proved it to be a correct one.

The 19-year-old, on only his second Premier Leaguestart, hit the post with a brilliant 25-yard effort following a sizzling run.

But that was the closest either side came to a goal in a 0-0 draw which lacked attacking quality, with Evertonlanding their first shot on target in the 86th minute when Seamus Coleman forced Simon Mignolet to save.

Ibe, who was recalled from a loan spell at Derby last month, was the shining light in a poor match and Rodgers was full of praise for the starlet, as well as ‘Rolls Royce’ midfielder-cum-defender Emre Can who again impressed at the back.

"I have been just waiting to put him in,” the Reds boss said of Ibe. “I called him back because I thought now he can really contribute.

"He had a great spell on loan, which is what you want from your young players, and he had a good time at a good club but it was time for him to come back and feature.

"I had no qualms about putting him in. He's a big talent, he's got great technical quality and it was a brilliant performance by him. He was unfortunate not to have scored with his run and strike.

"He has wonderful temperament and technique and is tactically very good for a kid coming into that system. I am very pleased for him.

"What was decent tonight was in such an intense atmosphere the composure of the young players.

"Emre Can, he was like a Rolls Royce at the back at 21 and he defended fantastically.

"Jordon Ibe and the rest showed great composure. They connected the game really well and we now have got a real solid structure defensively and 86 minutes was (Everton's) first shot on target."

Aside from a disappointing derby clash, another downside for Liverpool was the early loss of midfielder Lucas Leiva to a thigh problem, which is likely to keep the Brazilian out for a while.