Liverpool youngster Ryan Kent alerts Brendan Rodgers with double against Everton

Liverpool protégé Ryan Kent sent a strong message to first-team manager Brendan Rodgers after scoring two spectacular goals to help beat Everton Under-21's at Goodison Park.

Harry Charsley put the Toffees ahead in the first half but Kent's effort from 20 yards turned the game around and, following Sheyi Ojo's penalty, the 19-year-old struck again with a brilliant curling effort to secure another 3-1 win.

On just his third start for the Liverpool Under-21's after being promoted into the group this season, the double represents Kent's first contribution at this level and is likely to have caught the eye of Rodgers.

With Daniel Sturridge having missed significant chunks of the season with thigh and hip problems, Rodgers could bring in fresh faces in the summer to improve his attacking resources; however the performance of Kent could yet change his approach.

Rodgers has often promoted players from the club's academy into the Liverpool first team, with Jordon Ibe among those to benefit from such faith, and that could yet continue with the club not set to financially profit from being in the Champions League next season.

Liverpool Under-21 coach Michael Beale said: "I thought the boys responded really well, they worked it out for themselves. We obviously got the goal from Ryan and had maybe one or two chances to go in front and we spoke at half-time about freeing up our wide players and doing the same to them.

"Ryan's had a long time out so we're really pleased with where he's at. His back's perfect, that's his third start.

"I actually thought he had a better performance last week at Tottenham [a 3-1 win] but tonight he's got those goals after scoring last week too – so at the moment he's in a really good place.

"We don't want to go overboard because I thought Harry Wilson was very good and the two lads who have obviously came back from Wigan were very good as well."