'We're all happy about Flanno and the competition he brings'
Jon Flanagan's 40-minute display against Exeter City upon his return for Liverpool was just as encouraging to Nathaniel Clyne as the fact the defender was back in action.
The 23-year-old put an end to his 619-day spell out with injury when he took to the pitch early in the second half of a 3-0 victory for Jürgen Klopp’s side over their League Two opponents on Wednesday night.
The wall of noise that greeted the Scouser as he ran onto the Anfield turf was equal to the reaction produced by the goals from Joe Allen, Sheyi Ojo and Joao Carlos Teixeira which sent the Reds into the FA Cup fourth round and a meeting with West Ham United.
It was typical of Flanagan to ensure the moment did not become a distraction – instead, he quickly settled into the rhythm of the game and showed the kind of sureness of touch and awareness that earned an England call-up two seasons ago.
Clyne was given a watching brief for the evening as the manager shuffled his options and the No.2 observed plenty to praise in his compatriot and welcomed the competition he can provide when fully fit.
“He has been out for so long and working hard to get back in fit,” he told Liverpoolfc.com of Flanagan, who received messages from the likes of Cafu, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard to mark his comeback.
“On your first time [back] out, you want to show a good performance and he did that. He is going to [provide] more competition for places, which is healthy.
“He has gone about his job really well. He is still around the lads and still encourages us to do better as a team. He has been good around us. We’re all happy to see him back out there playing and fit. Everyone likes to play football and that’s what everyone wants to do.”
Klopp again placed his faith in youth for the replay against Exeter, naming a similar line-up to the one that had drawn 2-2 with the Grecians in the opening meeting at St James Park.
And they rewarded the confidence of the boss and his coaching staff by dominating the encounter and notching three well-worked goals – with Ojo’s curler the pick of the bunch.
Clyne said: “I thought it was a good team performance. A lot of young players were playing at Anfield and they were deserved winners at the end.
“It will definitely give them confidence, playing in the FA Cup and going through. Hopefully they will be more confident and try to break into the first team. Every opportunity you get as a youngster to play first-team football, you’ve got to take it.
“[Klopp] has given the young players confidence, especially with the first game being a draw and then using the same players again. It showed the confidence in the team that they could go on and beat Exeter, which they well and truly did.”