Brendan Rodgers hails Ibe and reveals his best position

Brendan Rodgers has praised the attributes of Liverpool teen Jordon Ibe after his first Premier League season, reports the Liverpool ECHO.  Furthermore, Rodgers revealed the “best” position for his “blessed” youngster too.

The 19-year-old playmaker spent the first part of the season on loan at Championship club Derby where he scored five goals in 20 appearances helping them in their promotion push to the Premier League.

Ibe returned to Anfield in January and made an immediate impression on the Northern Irish manager who lauded the talents he has shown and the potential he has in the coming years on Merseyside.

Rodgers said: “He’s technically very, very good. He’s very clean with his technique, both feet and a lovely touch on the ball. He’s a player that you need to give instruction to, but not too much or you dampen all that flair and style that he has.

''For a winger, he can go the 90 minutes; he can get up and down the field, he wants to work hard with and without the ball. He has shown his flexibility. His best position is probably off the left side coming in, but left side or right side or at times in behind he can play very well.

''He’s technically gifted, blessed with physical attributes of speed and strength naturally, and obviously over the next few years it’s about strengthening up that mentality of the game, learning the game tactically and hopefully improving consistency.”

His return from Derby saw him play 12 games for Liverpool in the second half of the season and after impressing in substitute appearances against Aston Villa and West Ham he earned a first start in the Merseyside derby against Everton.

Ibe’s performances against Spurs and Southampton following the Everton game earned him much praise and it gave much credit to loan system and how much it benefits young English players to spend time in the lower leagues.

Jordon Ibe returned to the Liverpool side on January 17th. He sat fourth for completed take-ons and in that time and showed bags of potential in a Red shirt.

An injury meant Ibe missed a few games as Liverpool’s challenge for the top four all but evaporated at the end of March and a disappointing season ended with a sixth place finish for the Reds.

Ibe perhaps represents one of the very few positives from Liverpool’s season and in the 19-year-old they have found a gem within the rough and as his game develops, fans will hope for big things from this tough and tricky winger.