Flanagan praised

Last updated : 12 April 2011 By Al Campbell

Injuries to the back four meant a first start for the 18 year old right-back against Man City last night. The young defender aquitted himself well and earned the praise of his manager.

"He never knew he was playing until about quarter to six - we wouldn't have had enough tickets to go round if we had told him he was playing!" joked Dalglish.

"The family would have been inundating the club with ticket requests and there weren't any to be sold, so we had to keep it quiet.

"He did fantastic. He was playing against Manchester City and an international in [James] Milner, but it never even fazed him. He just went out and played. He took one down on his chest early doors and passed it away, and I think that settled him down.

"He did not look fazed in any way, shape or form and it's a fantastic credit to him that he did as well as he did.

"It's a reflection of the good work that has been done at the Academy in the last year and a half."