Jon Flanagan
Jon Flanagan will continue to get better for Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish claims.

Kenny Dalglish believes the fact that Jon Flanagan is born and bred in Liverpool will make him an even bigger prospect for the club as they aim for Champions League qualification this season.

Flanagan appeared set to leave the club on loan in the January transfer window with the 20 year old making just two appearances for the side before December.

But with Flanagan starring this month in the absence of Jose Enrique and forcing his way into the Liverpool XI on three occasions so far Brendan Rodgers is reportedly re-thinking the possibility of sending him out for more first-team experience.

And Dalglish believes that Flanagan will continue to prove he is worthy of a starting place, with his love for the club and city fuelling a passion in the full-back that's incomparable with players who haven't grown up on Merseyside.

"Flanno is a good player, he's got the belief in himself," Dalglish told the Liverpool Daily Post. "Left-back might not be his favourite position but it's better than playing for the reserves. He has done really well since he came in.

"It was a big call for Brendan to play him at left-back; if you look at the game on Saturday, he was in at left-back and Aly Cissokho was on the bench. That tells you Flanno must be doing well.

"You cannot get a game because of your birthplace, you cannot get a game because you're a Scouser. You get a game because you're good. But when you're a Scouser, it helps as well when you play well.

"The fans are fantastic to him because he's one of their own, they can relate to that and he can relate to them - as long as he continues to concentrate and do well. Flanno is a good lad and a good player. He'll be helpful for Brendan to have in and around the squad."

Rodgers took over the managerial post at Liverpool from Dalglish and has so far been successful with the club, taking them from mid-table to competing for a top four place once more.

Whether they will last the rest of the season competing for silverware remains to be seen but at present Flanagan is giving Rodgers more options at the back.