The full-back’s contract has just under 12 months left to run and, after impressing throughout this season, the 21-year-old is to be offered a contract extension

Brendan Rodgers has likened Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan to Anfield legend Steve Nicol and vowed to give the youngster a new deal.

The Reds boss is gushing in his praise for the homegrown 21-year-old, who has caught the eye during his 14 Premier League appearances this season.

Flanagan’s display in the 3-0 win at Manchester United last Sunday has prompted Rodgers to draw comparisons with Nicol, the former defender who won a host of silverware during his 13-year Liverpool career.

“He has been outstanding,” the Northern Irishman said ahead of Saturday’s clash with Cardiff City.

“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.

“Jon will be given a new contract – no question.

“Come the summer he’s got another year so he will definitely be given a new deal.”

Rodgers has hailed the progress Flanagan is making, as he added: “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.

“He’s only very young, but his performance levels are so mature.”

The Brazilian-born forward, who spent a period on loan at Bolton, has scored 10 goals in his last 16 appearances and is on the radar of Reds chief Brendan Rodgers

Benfica boss Jorge Jesus has revealed Liverpool are among the Premier League clubs interested in his side’s in-form striker Rodrigo.

The 23-year-old Brazilian-born forward was only on the bench as his side eliminated Tottenham from the Europa League on Thursday night but has attracted interest from Brendan Rodgers’ title-chasing side following a run of 10 goals in his last 16 appearances.

Questioned directly about Liverpool’s interest in the striker, Jesus told reporters: “It’s normal. Every Benfica player is in a big window.

“The league is full of high quality players so it’s normal for other clubs to be interested.

“Rodrigo is going through a good moment.”

Rodrigo was born in Rio but has represented Spain at various youth levels and endured an uneventful loan spell at Bolton four years ago as a 17-year-old when he managed only one Premier League goal, against Wigan, in his 17 games for the club.

Brendan Rodgers insists Liverpool cannot rest on past glories when the Premier League title hopefuls visit Cardiff City on Saturday.

Liverpool were utterly dominant in beating fierce rivals Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, a result that left Rodgers’ side four points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.
However, with a trip to relegation-threatened Cardiff on the horizon, Rodgers is focussing his players’ minds on the task in hand.

“The focus has been purely on Cardiff City, that’s been our world this week,” said the former Swansea City boss.

“We had a wonderful performance at Old Trafford, but there hasn’t been any talk of the title. We’re just enjoying how we’re playing.

“The run-in for us is the next game. We have tough games right through, starting with a very tough game against Cardiff. We can speak about the run-in when it’s over.”

Rodgers’ men come into the game as the Premier League’s form side, having won all five of their previous league outings, scoring 18 goals in the process.

The strike partnership of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez has plundered a combined total of 43 league goals this season, including two for the Uruguayan in a 3-1 win at Anfield in the reverse fixture in December.

That proved to be Malky Mackay’s penultimate game in charge of Cardiff, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer taking the reins in January.

The change of manager has hardly brought a change of fortunes, however, with the Welsh outfit picking up seven points from the Norwegian’s 10 league matches in charge.

Cardiff sit second from bottom in the table, three points from safety, although Solskjaer’s side did secure a crucial three points in their last outing at the Cardiff City Stadium, as Steven Caulker scored twice in a 3-1 win over Fulham.

Solskjaer, meanwhile, has called on his players to earn cult status by avoiding the drop.

“Our fans love their heroes out there on the pitch,” he said.

“I’ve said I’m going to work and earn their support, and they can see we have a team that is going to do our best to make them proud.

“We need heroes now definitely. It is eight games to go and I’m sure one or two heroes will step forward.”

For Liverpool, defender Mamadou Sakho returned to the first-team squad on Sunday for the first time since suffering a hamstring problem in December and has this week declared himself fit and available for selection.