Friday, 21st March, 2014
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has compared young full-back Jon Flanagan to the legendary Steve Nicol and insisted the 21-year-old is a certainty for a new contract.
Flanagan has impressed with his mature displays for the Reds this season, most recently producing a praise-winning performance against Manchester United last weekend, when Liverpool visited Old Trafford and won 3-0.
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Rodgers feels that there are similarities between Flanagan and a Liverpool great in Nicol, who played for the club between 1981 and 1994, winning five top flight titles, three FA Cups and one European Cup.
Nicol was also voted the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 1989.
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Rodgers was quoted as saying by ITV: "He has been outstanding. He reminded me of Steve Nicol against Manchester United on Sunday – a right-footed player on the left side, steady, aggressive, no fear.
"He's been a revelation, and particularly in the big games. It's great when you see a young player develop like that.
"You can see the confidence he has now. He has made himself an important member of the squad."
And the Liverpool manager explained Flanagan, whose contract expires in 2015, will be offered a new deal.
"Jon will be given a new contract.
"Come the summer he's got another year so he will definitely be given a new deal, no question."
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