Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers believes that Lazar Markovic is beginning to find his feet at Anfield after his £20m switch from Benfica in the summer.
The Serbian youngster featured in an unfamiliar left wing-back role in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Bournemouth in the League Cup and netted his first goal for the Reds.
Rodgers thinks that the 20-year-old is starting to show why the Northern Irishman was keen to make the sizeable investment in him during the summer.
He told the club's official website: "It has taken him a bit of time to get going and we have talked to him about being more aggressive in his game. In the 15 minutes before he got sent off against Basel, it was disappointing that he was sent off, because he started really well. That's the Markovic that we know.
"Playing in that role [against Bournemouth] he was outstanding; he was defensively good and pressed the ball at almost all of the right times, so tactically he was very good.
"And with the ball his speed and movement was excellent. He has got good quality and is a good footballer. It is pleasing. At 20 years of age, he looks like he is improving all the time."
Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday.
Paul Gorst
