Brendan Rodgers says he is happy that Jordon Ibe rewarded his faith in youth with his man-of-the-match performance against Everton and that the winger has given himself a "springboard" to become an important player for Liverpool.
Ibe had been on loan at Championship side Derby County during the first half of the season but Liverpool recalled him last month and Rodgers opted to include him in the starting XI for the 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
The 19-year-old came close to scoring when his long-range strike hit the post, and his overall performance suggested he has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan in establishing himself in Rodgers' first-team plans.
"Maybe I have too much belief in young players, but I see enough on day to day to know the character of the player," he said in the Liverpool Echo. "I think there is just part of me that thinks you never know until you throw in a young player and it doesn't matter what the game is.
"If you believe in them enough and they have the tactical awareness of the game and collectively they know the team is with them, it can really push them on in their development. It is easy for me to put an experienced player in, but you look at the talent on show with some of the British boys."
He added: "This is a real, real springboard for Jordon Ibe. He has always showed flashes and come on in games and you have wondered: 'Can he do it?' So to come to Goodison and play like he did, showing that confidence and temperament was outstanding -- that will really help his development and push him on."
The Liverpool boss also revealed that he had only told the youngster he was playing the day before the game to prevent anxiety.
"He only found out he was playing on Friday," he said. "I was looking at him when I announced it and, sometimes if you tell them too early, they have all week to worry about it, they don't eat and they don't get their fluids on board.
"We were going to do our tactical play and pattern of work at Anfield so he found out then."
Rodgers suggested Ibe could remain in the side when Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.
"I would have no qualms playing Jordon now and there is no greater pressure than a Goodison game with that intensity, and he was obviously man of the match," he said.
"You have to look at that performance. He was playing a lot at Derby and we have a lot of games so I have to nurture the talent as well, but to perform like that in a big game was great and it gives me great confidence now to see him as part of the squad."