Kenny Dalglish spent summer sharpening up Liverpool's next big hope

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish might have lost his job to Brendan Rodgers, but he has been busy working with a man who could play a key role in shaping Rodgers’ future at the club.

With Raheem Sterling out of the picture, England U20 winger Jordan Ibe is the young prospect many Liverpool fans have switched their hopes onto.

The teenager has enjoyed an encouraging pre-season with the Reds, including a spectacular strike on tour against a Malasia XI.

Speaking to the Liverpool club website, Ibe put his sharp form down to an extra workload this summer, including sessions with Dalglish.

"I spoke about it with Alex Inglethorpe (Liverpool academy director) and the manager had suggested to him that I do some extra sessions to keep myself ticking over during the summer," said Ibe.

"I’m definitely feeling the benefits of that. All the little bits of extra work add up. I have to give a lot of credit to Alex. It was great to come in and work with someone like Kenny [Dalglish].

After his second spell as manager was ended in 2012, Dalglish returned to Anfield as a non-executive director om October, 2013.

"I have always said if there is anything I could do to help I would make myself available," Dalglish said then.

And it seems that includes tutoring the club’s best prospects, with Ibe admitting he can learn a lot from Dalglish’s famous poise in front of goal.

"I’m not completely satisfied because I need to keep working on a few things, like my end product - getting the ball and finding someone in the box and trying to add a few more goals to my game," Ibe said.

"I’m quite self-critical. I like to think about things after a game - things I could have improved on, like maybe having taken a shot on or something."

With a fresh influx of expensive talent arriving at Anfield this summer, Ibe faces a fight for a regular place, but hopes his summer efforts can help impress Rodgers.

"Hopefully it’s going to keep adding up and I’m hoping to add a few more goals to my game.

"I know I’m at a young age, but in my position I need to have an end product. If I’m not getting a goal in a game, then I need to be trying to get an assist for one of my teammates or making sure I have a great game.

"They’re the three things I am working on to try and do regularly. Hopefully I’ll see the benefit from doing that."

"The season is coming up and I need to keep improving and keep the manager satisfied with my performances so I can get a chance to play regularly in the Premier League."