Jordon Ibe hails Brendan Rodgers after winning second Liverpool start

Liverpool youngster Jordon Ibe has thanked the club for recalling him from the season-long loan spell at Championship club Derby County, after making a triumphant second start for the club in the goalless Merseyside draw with Everton.

The 19-year-old was a surprise inclusion from the start at Goodison Park, nearly two years on from his full league debut against Queens Park Rangers, but was the stand-out performer and came the closest to breaking the deadlock after hitting the post in the first half.

Ibe had enjoyed an impressive spell at Pride Park during the first half of the campaign, scoring five goals in 24 appearances for the promotion hopefuls but the England Under-20 international has praised Liverpool for rewarding him with a January recall.

"It felt really good and I enjoyed it a lot," Ibe said of his second league start. "It was great that the gaffer gave me a chance to get involved in such an important game.

"I enjoyed it and I thought the rest of the team did well. I come back with more experience from playing at Derby, playing in important games and getting minutes.

"It was great to come back and get involved. It was great at Derby but obviously I was trying to play well to get back into the Liverpool side.

"So when I got told to come back it was a great achievement for me. After I finished there it was for me to kick on and keep working hard."

A tightly contested 227<sup>th Merseyside derby saw few chances created from either side, bar from Ibe who was denied by Joel Robles from close range in the first half before smashing against the post from 25 yards after a mazy run.

And the ex-Wycombe Wanderers youngster admits he had prepared to celebrate his first Liverpool goal until he saw the ball cannon off the woodwork.

"I went on a run and when I shot, I thought it was going in," he admitted. "I was getting ready to celebrate, but it hit the post and went wide.

"It was quite new for me. The gaffer just told me certain things; to stay as a full-back and when we had the ball, I get back in the usual position I usually play in, playing wide and high.

"It was OK for me. I enjoyed it – it was new and exciting to learn."