Liverpool full-back Jon Flanagan went into a full bloodied challenge with ex-teammate Raheem Sterling in the first minute of the Reds clash against Manchester City this week.

The twenty three year old has came out and said the tackle was for the Anfield crowd:

“It was something I had to do to get the crowd up,”

I am pretty sure the challenge was premeditated and the first thing Jon wanted to do was go in hard on Sterling and win the ball.

I admire that and it shows that the player has a good instinct for timing and footballing nous.

It wasn’t done with any malice and he wasn’t reckless, the two were friends when Sterling was a Liverpool player. It showed everyone that they were now opponents on the field. Interestingly Sterling wouldn’t come out for the second half.

As Flanagan said, it was essential to get the fans behind the team. A hard but fair tackle on a player that the club’s faithful believe deserted the the side was the best way to do that.

It was also a very important tackle for the player himself. Jon has had a very difficult time of it with injuries.

The game against City was his first in the English Premier League for twenty-two months. He lasted the full ninety minutes, helped the team secure all three points and won praise from his new boss Jurgen Klopp:

“After 20-something months out he played so smart and so clever,”

Now here’s the thing Jon Flanagan’s contract with Liverpool runs out in the summer. So as well as impressing the fans he needs to make a statement on the pitch to secure his future at the club. More performances like the one he produced against Man City will be vital in that quest.

The fact he can play on both sides of the pitch should help him. Many a Liverpool supporter has complained about Alberto Moreno’s defensive frailties. So maybe the left-back slot could be one for Flanagan to aim for as he is a more solid performer in that position.

It is imperative now for Jon Flanagan to keep it going and to stay away from injury.

His character reminds me of Jamie Carragher. He wants to do anything to secure a victory and those are the types of player Liverpool needs at the minute. Actually they have always needed that kind of footballler.

Hopefully Flanagan can stay fit, keep playing, win himself a new deal and play a big part in Liverpool’s first team next season. Really he could save Klopp millions!

Posted on March 4th, 2016 by scott
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