How Liverpool Can Get the Best out of Jordon Ibe Next Season

Jordon Ibe was one of few players to come out of Liverpool's dismal 2014/15 season with any credit, and now manager Brendan Rodgers will be plotting how to get the best out of the promising young attacker next season.

Ibe was one of the stars of the second half of the season for Rodgers, with a smattering of scintillating displays serving to lift consistently flagging spirits.

Liverpool must know they have a real talent on their hands in Ibe.

So how do they get the best out of him in Merseyside red in 2015/16?

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The 'Anti-Sterling' Billing

With Ibe's attacking counterpart Raheem Sterling looking set to depart Merseyside this summer after conjuring—with much help from his Machiavellian representative, Aidy Ward—a media storm by intimating that he wishes to leave the club as soon as possible, as reported BBC Sport's Ben Smith, the 19-year-old has already begun to be painted as the anti-Sterling.

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After Ward rather scandalously declared, according to Benedict Moore-Bridger of the London Evening Standard, that "[Sterling] is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700, £800, £900[,000] a week. He is not signing," it became clear that Sterling was, and remains to be, ill-advised.

"I don’t care about the PR of the club and the club situation. I don’t care," Ward continued, highlighting his ineptitude as a footballing representative—failing Sterling in the paternal aspect of the job.

Meanwhile, Ibe—by all accounts a close friend of Sterling's—was telling Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo, "I don’t see what an agent can do for me that my parents couldn’t."

Ibe signed a new, five-year deal with Liverpool in May, with Laurie Whitwell of MailOnline revealing that the player's stepfather, influential in the smooth nature of the talks, was given a job at the club as a scout.

"

Kenny Dalglish working with Jordon Ibe in training today pic.twitter.com/ZL3rnRPpz1

— Kop 305 (@Kop305) June 10, 2015"

Liverpool supporters now rightly see Ibe as a young talent with his head screwed on, with this ideal only furthered by the 19-year-old cutting short his summer holiday to take a specialist training session with Reds legend Kenny Dalglish at the club's Kirkby academy training facility.

Mid-season, Sterling was provided with a winter break in Jamaica in order to replenish his tired reserves—the former Queens Park Rangers academy talent was being overused within the Liverpool ranks—of which Rodgers told Sky Sports at the time, "It was not a physical rest, more a mental rest for a young player that has had so much thrown on him.

"This is about the boy’s life and his career, plenty of people will probably comment on it, but I’m only worried what we do for the kid."

While his portrayal is likely hugely exaggerated, Sterling's decision to shun the club this summer paints a remarkable contrast with the loyal, hardworking Ibe, and it can be argued that his leaving Liverpool this summer could benefit Ibe hugely.

But is he able to take on the Sterling mantle if he ends up at Manchester City, Arsenal or even Manchester United this summer?

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A Throwback with True Quality

"I am on the edge of my seat when he gets the ball," then-Derby County manager Steve McLaren told the Derby Telegraph's Steve Nicholson back in September. "He is, kind of, like the jinky wingers we used to get in the game."

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McLaren was speaking shortly after Ibe arrived on the season-long loan that Liverpool had intended to propel his development—which was, of course, later cut short due to limitations in the Anfield club's January transfer dealings—and his assessment is accurate.

Ibe is a rare breed in terms of young players, akin to Everton's Ross Barkley, in that he is a true throwback.

Although rather prematurely compared to majestic former Liverpool midfielder John Barnes, Ibe has qualities that are seldom seen in the Premier League now, despite the advancements in overall distinction in the sport.

Though he was only afforded a bit-part role following his recall from loan in January, making just 12 league appearances at an average of 52 minutes per game, Ibe showcased his fearlessness and overriding quality in the No. 33 shirt.

Across those 12 league games, Ibe averaged more successful dribbles per 90 minutes (3.5) than Sterling (three), as well as posting a hugely economical average passing accuracy of 87.4 percent—only Martin Skrtel (90.1), Mamadou Sakho (89.4), Kolo Toure (87.9) and Joe Allen (87.9) were tidier in possession.

Ibe matches quality with maturity, making him an ideal Barnes heir; although, he has a long way to go.

Present at this month's Melwood jaunt, academy director Alex Inglethorpe praised Ibe's mentality and ability, as relayed by Andy Kelly for the Liverpool Echo:

"

He’s looking to add to his game for sure, it’s very much driven by him, he’s turned up the last three or four days and I’d anticipate we’ll work again. He’s actually on his holidays but he wants to improve and get a bit better.

He’s a really good lad and I think he recognises this is the beginning of his journey and he’s far from being complete. He’s still got a lot to do and a lot to work on, and it’s nice to know he sees that himself.

It’s great to have a player who drives his own development.

"

Perhaps unlike Sterling, Ibe is now tuned to undergo a significant development at Liverpool, and this can continue with a key role in 2015/16.

But how do Liverpool get the best out of him?

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How to Get the Best out of Jordon Ibe

Ibe spent much of 2015 playing in an unorthodox wing-back role in Rodgers' 3-4-2-1 formation, even rounding off the season by coming on to play in a more traditional left-back position in the Reds' 6-1 defeat away to Stoke City.

Tellingly, Ibe was Liverpool's best player on that miserable afternoon at the Britannia Stadium and told Jones in May that he was happy to play in these more defensive roles:

"

I’ve enjoyed it. There is a different responsibility playing as a wing-back, but the way we play means I don’t have to do a lot of defensive stuff anyway. I can still get forward and attack. It’s been a great experience playing in that position. If I have to play right-back one time, or wing-back again, I will know the position.

"

It is encouraging that, even at 19, he is capable of slotting in and performing in a completely alien position in a hugely demanding league, but the buck must stop as Liverpool head into the 2015/16 season.

As with Lazar Markovic, there was a sense that Ibe was being held back by being reserved positioning on the field.

To get the best out of Ibe next season, Rodgers must utilise him in his natural position. As the manager told Kelly of the Echo following Ibe's contract announcement, this comes on the left side of attack:

"

He has shown his flexibility. His best position is probably off the left side coming in, but left side or right side or at times in behind he can play very well.

He’s technically gifted, blessed with physical attributes of speed and strength naturally, and obviously over the next few years it’s about strengthening up that mentality of the game, learning the game tactically and hopefully improving consistency.

"

Seemingly, Ibe and Rodgers are in sync: Both player and manager know that he has a special talent waiting to be harnessed, but this needs to be carefully managed.

Rodgers will be ecstatic that, despite Sterling's transgressions, he has a ready-made replacement in his ranks.

Use him regularly in his best position, on the left side of the forward line, and Liverpool will get the very best out of Ibe in 2015/16; it could well be a defining season for the 19-year-old.

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

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