Jon Flanagan

[Lecter]

1 Kelly is worringly injury-prone, so is a bit of an unreliable fallback unless he can sort that out.

2 Henderson is NOT a right-back.

Henderson might not be a rightback but he looked more comfortable than Flanagan did last night

[The Birdman]

Isn't it Ryan Mcloughlin?

Agree on Mcloughlin though, or however you spell it, does look to have improved massively over the last year.

Him and Brad Smith at left back are potentially better than Flanagan and Robinson, fingers crossed 2 out of the 4 become at least decent squad players.

[RedReet]

He won’t have slept a wink on Friday night, but you suspect Jon Flanagan’s Saturday will have been a whole lot more relaxing. A night in front of the boxing will have felt like peace and quiet after a frenzied afternoon at Goodison Park.

The life of a footballer is such that a couple of weeks can make a world of difference. From backstage to centre stage, and all in the blink of an eye.

A fortnight ago, Flanagan was in Seville, part of a mix-and-match Liverpool U21 side, sent to keep his eye in whilst the majority of his team-mates were away furthering their credentials on international duty.

There, under the Spanish sun and in front of the proverbial man and his dog, the idea of a starring role in the most exciting Merseyside derby in a generation will have seemed some way off. How quickly things change.

If Flanagan was Brendan Rodgers’ great derby gamble, then he was one that paid off. On a madcap day when definitive conclusions were hard to draw, the 20-year-old’s performance stood out a mile for the Reds. A penny for the thoughts of departing Academy duo Rodolfo Borrell and Frank McParland, as they watched one of their graduates perform with such distinction.

Click here for more pictures of the thrilling Merseyside derby

“He was immense,” said Rodgers afterwards. “For a game like today, I needed characters, and someone who knows what this game is about. He’s done brilliantly.”

Steven Gerrard, who has seen more than most when it comes to these fixtures, revealed that there had been a round of applause for Flanagan in the Reds dressing room after the game. Gerrard said he would be picking up the ECHO this morning expecting to see his young team-mate named Man of the Match.

That might be ignoring the contribution of others somewhat – Simon Mignolet, for example, or the impressive Everton duo of James McCarthy and Ross Barkley – but it is easy to see Gerrard’s point. If this was the biggest game of Flanagan’s fledgling career, then it barely showed.

Rate the Reds out of 10

Preferred to Aly Cissokho (and what does that say about the on-loan Valencia man?) Flanagan was in the game from the word go. With much of Everton’s threat coming down their right, via the direct running of Kevin Mirallas, the youngster was always going to have his work cut out.

Still, he was confident enough to venture forward early on, his run helping force the corner from which Philippe Coutinho prodded the Reds in front on five minutes.

Smart and composed in possession – there were no percentage balls or hopeful hoofs – Flanagan’s defensive work was equally assured. His positional play, impressive considering his natural position is as a right-back, allowed him to make a series of well-timed interceptions, whilst his wholeheartedness – a key reason for his selection ahead of Cissokho – was in evidence as he competed well against the livewire Mirallas.

Save for one occasion, when the Belgian ghosted past him far too easily before driving off target, the Liverpool man shaded the battle in the opening period.

Gerard Deulofeu’s introduction shortly after half-time provided a fresh examination. The Spaniard’s pace is searing, and forced Flanagan (and Liverpool) on to the back foot. What it didn’t do, however, was sap his spirit.

Cafu he may not be, but he was confident enough to offer an option whenever Liverpool attacked. Indeed, had Glen Johnson spotted him, unmarked, as he weaved his way across the penalty area, then Flanagan may well have turned a fine derby debut into an exceptional one.

As it was, he can be more than satisfied with his afternoon’s work. After a stellar start to his Reds career under Kenny Dalglish in early 2011, the past two years have been rather less kind. The memories of those early outings, when he excelled against the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, have faded quickly.

He managed just 101 minutes for the first team last season and, prior to his surprise selection at Arsenal earlier this month, hadn’t started a league game for the Reds since a nightmare outing at Blackburn, some 19 months ago.

That he could come back into the fold in such circumstances at Arsenal, and then deliver a performance of such quality in the powderkeg atmosphere of a derby, says plenty about his character, as much as his ability.

“He’s a terrific boy,” said Rodgers. “You come to places like Goodison, and you’ve got to be able to defend and be a man.

“But I’ve seen enough of him. It doesn’t matter if he is playing in front of six people in training or 90,000 in a game, he’s the same. He doesn’t get affected. That was why I put him in.”

Rodgers admitted Flanagan’s performance had given him “something to think about”.

With Jose Enrique out until the New Year, and Cissokho making a slow start to his Reds career, the left-back spot is there for the taking at the moment.

Flanagan did his prospects no harm whatsoever here. It won’t be as lively as this, but expect to see him at Hull City next weekend. He’s earned his chance.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/neil-jones-analysis-jon-flanagan-6337162

[RedReet]

A penny for the thoughts of departing Academy duo Rodolfo Borrell and Frank McParland, as they watched one of their graduates perform with such distinction.

Was thinking that myself yesterday.

[Fosterbloke]

Was thinking that myself yesterday.

I wasn't.

[RedReet]

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits he is undecided what to do with Jon Flanagan, with a loan move mooted.

The promising full-back made his senior breakthrough in 2010/11, but has struggled to nail down regular involvement since then.

He was drafted back into the fold for Saturday's Merseyside derby, and impressed as Liverpool and Everton played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.

That outing was only Flanagan's second of the season, with Jose Enrique and Aly Cissoko providing more experienced options at left-back.

Rodgers is, however, prepared to admit that Flanagan has played his way back into contention and may no longer need to look for a short-term deal away from Anfield in the New Year.

He said in the Liverpool Echo: "He needs to play football. But if he plays like he played today, he is going to get football.

"It's been remarkable, really, that we haven't had any clubs come in to take him on loan. We will always facilitate the wages, but we have had just one club come in for him, and that was a League One club. He's a young player that needs to play.

"There have been a couple of enquiries about him, but nothing concrete. I just felt that I needed to have him about, and in the end I needed him to play in the Arsenal game.

"He's done brilliantly, and that gives me something to think about."

On the England U21 international's performance against Everton at Goodison Park, Rodgers added: "Jon Flanagan was immense.

"A young kid from the city, given the chance to play in a derby game that will be on Sky Gold in about 30 years' time, and given the chance because of his desire to put himself out there every day."

We'll at least that explains why we haven't sent him out on loan. If he'd played for United and played half as well as he did for us in his first season, he'd have had his choice of clubs.

[Mostar]

He did well given that he played as a LB.

We still need to pick up a new LB in January but hopefully he'll provide a viable option until then.

[Chris]

Boss again. And what a ****ing stunning finish.

[Daniel 7]

One of my absolute favourite goals. Brilliant - there's something that bit more spectacular about a goal that cannons off the crossbar.

[RichC]

Excellent today, Lennon wasn't in the game at all.

[Gingawaria]

Magnificent performance today, didn't put a foot wrong all game and deserved that goal.

[RedReet]

http://www.est1892.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=2739690&postcount=773

I was a lone voice at the time, so

[rodo]

he enjoyed his goal

[Fosterbloke]

Hahaha looks like he's got his hand down there knocking one out!

[danperkins]

He did well given that he played as a LB.

We still need to pick up a new LB in January but hopefully he'll provide a viable option until then.