Klopp hails Flanagan’s Premier League return

Matt Stead

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was delighted with Jon Flanagan’s performance in the Reds’ 3-0 victory over Manchester City at Anfield on Wednesday.

The full-back hasn’t made a Premier League start since May 2014 but returned against City to help the Reds to a memorable win.

Flanagan had a great game up against former team-mate Raheem Sterling and showed no mercy in the opening minute of the first half with a fair but heavy challenge on his fellow England international.

Despite an impressive performance, Klopp admits the club will have to tread carefully with the Liverpool youngster.

And Reds boss Klopp said: “After 20-something months out he played so smart and so clever.

“In the first half he showed his opponent (Sterling) ‘maybe we were friends a few months ago but not for tonight’!

“In the second half he saved energy by not going forward as much and was really clever.

“When we’ve spoken about Flanno, we talk about 20 months, not about quality. But now we need to see what we can do with him.

“The Premier League is about Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday, Wednesday so we will have to think about this.

“That’s why we have to judge the intensity a little bit. That’s all.”