Brendan Rodgers reflected on Jon Flanagan's highly-assured Merseyside derby performance against Everton on Saturday and admitted: 'He's given me something to think about.'

The 20-year-old was handed only his second start of the season at Goodison Park in an unfamiliar left-back role.

However, Flanagan turned in an outstanding display against the Blues as the teams played out a pulsating 3-3 draw.

Rodgers believes the performance was testament to the Scouser's mentality and hinted he will see more first-team action over the coming weeks.

The boss said: "I'm a big admirer of Jon because he has just kept persevering. It has been remarkable really, that we haven't had any clubs come in for him to take him on loan.

"We only had one club come in for him, a League One club.

"I had to keep him back because I thought I was going to have to play him at Arsenal. He is a young player that needs to play.

"There have been a couple of enquiries but nothing concrete. I just felt that I needed to have him about. In a game like this, I knew I needed characters.

"I needed someone who knows what this game is about.

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"He is a terrific boy, he is a kid that is wholehearted. It was a real test for him, first with [Kevin] Mirallas and then with [Gerard] Deulofeu. I thought he was outstanding. When you come to places like this, you have to be a man, you have to be able to defend.

"I have seen enough of him. I have seen enough of him in training. It doesn't matter whether he is playing in front of six people at the reserves or in front of 90,000. He is the same. He doesn't get affected. That's what I needed.

"He has done brilliant and that has given me something to think about."