Monday 9 February 2015 09:21, UK
Liverpool's Jordon Ibe showed his potential with a man of the match performance against Everton...
In Steven Gerrard’s final Merseyside derby a Liverpool star of the future emerged: Jordon Ibe.
The 19-year-old is no secret weapon – he was recalled from his impressive loan spell with Derby after netting five times for the Championship title-chasers – but in just his second Premier League start for Liverpool, in the cauldron of a Merseyside derby, man-of-the-match Ibe showed his class.
Usually deployed on the right side of midfield, Ibe – who made his Reds debut in an end-of-season clash with QPR in 2013 - was used at right wing back at Goodison Park but slotted into Liverpool’s system with ease.
“There was a lot of young British talent out there but he can be a big player,” said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers after the game.
“He’s tactically very good, you can see his quality in the one v one, he can beat people, he puts a shift in, gets back and works and he’s only going to get better and stronger. He was outstanding.”
In a game of few clear-cut chances Ibe looked the most likely to spark a breakthrough; the teenager smashed a long range shot against the post and nearly teed up Daniel Sturridge with a cut-back in the second half.
He was composed in possession, too, completing 94.4 per cent of his passes (only Alberto Moreno and John Stones were more accurate), while Jordan Henderson was the only Liverpool player to surpass the 10.99km he covered.
“He should be proud of his performance,” said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
“For a 19-year-old kid to make what you would class as his proper Premier League debut and produce the performance he did – going closest to scoring and closest to creating a goal – in an unnatural position, he should be very proud. He was one of the best players on the pitch today.”
Skipper Gerrard described Ibe’s efforts as “sensational” - especially as the youngster only found out he was starting on Friday - and the future seems bright for the England U20 international.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp praised his stunning strike which rattled the woodwork and says he expects to see Ibe excel up front in years to come – but warned he can pose a threat from out wide, too, given his pace and dribbling ability.
“What I really like about him is the way he strikes the ball,” said Redknapp. “This isn’t a fluke. Some players can do that. That’s a gift. Some players can hit the ball so cleanly. It’s something you can’t teach, it’s something you’re born with.
“But if you’re defending against him and show him down the line that’s exactly what he’ll do – and he’ll beat you with pace. And if you say to him come inside he goes and you can’t stop him.
“Do I think he’ll play wing back long term? No. I think he’ll be a central striker but at the moment, to be in the team, gaining experience is absolutely brilliant for that young man.”
As Gerrard prepares to hand over the baton to the next generation, the teenager he handed the man of the match prize to on Saturday night seems set to be among the leading lights of Liverpool's future.
