Pascoe: Emre has leadership quality
Leadership potential should be added to Emre Can's growing list of stellar attributes, according to Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe.
The German was almost faultless during Tuesday's 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur, both in defence and later from a central midfield position.
Since being drafted into the side as a substitute on Boxing Day, Can has been selected from the start in every single game by Brendan Rodgers.
Fans have taken great delight from what they have seen in that time, with the No.23 showing a steel and composure far beyond his 21 years.
Pascoe expects even more to come. "He is young and learning his game, but in years to come I'm sure he'll progress to be a leader," he commented today.
"He's a leader on the pitch and he has been fantastic with the way he is playing. At the moment, he's probably not looking at that kind of thing himself. He's a great lad.
"When we were monitoring him to come to Liverpool, he could play at centre-half. The opportunity arose for him to go into the team in a back three, where he has been fantastic.
"He showed the other night when he stepped into midfield that is his position, and he wants to play there, but he always says that he would play anywhere for Liverpool.
"He is a great asset and a great lad and a good player. He has got on with it and worked hard, waiting for his chance. And he has grabbed it with both hands."
Stationed alongside Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel, Can has contributed to a newly-stubborn Liverpool backline throughout 2015 so far.
The Reds had recorded four straight league clean sheets before the clash with Spurs as the trio have developed a strong understanding in Rodgers' defence.
Pascoe explained at a Melwood press conference: "You are trying to get stability within a back four or back three, and trying to keep them all together.
"That's what has happened. The three of them have played regularly together now and there's no coincidence that we've kept clean sheets."
There were also words of praise from the boss' deputy regarding a stunning save from Simon Mignolet against Tottenham, at full stretch to deny Erik Lamela.
"It was a fantastic save that Simon made the other night," added the Welshman. "Mario [Balotelli] got all of the headlines with the winning goal.
"But the goalkeeper made an unbelievable save to win us the game as well. He is a fantastic 'keeper, he always has been. He is just showing how good he is now."