Youngster Jordan Rossiter admits he didn’t expect to feature in Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
The 18-year-old replaced a tired Lucas Leiva in the 76th minute of the game with the Gunners beginning to penetrate the Liverpool defence.
In speaking with Liverpoolfc.com, the midfielder explained his surprise and excitement at being called upon.
“I found out I was travelling down on Sunday,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be coming on in the last 10 minutes, especially at 0-0. But I was made up, over the moon.”
Rossiter revealed what manager Brendan Rodgers’ words of encouragement were before he stepped onto the pitch:
[Rodgers] said to work hard and enjoy it, and to make sure I kept it tight. We got the result in the end.
The Scouser – who joined Liverpool when he was just six-years-old – says this is just another step in his development and can’t wait for his next opportunity.
“Once you get that taste you just want more,” said Rossiter. “But I know I’ve got to be patient. [Jordan] Henderson and [Adam] Lallana were injured and they are going to come back into it. But I can only keep on improving every day and hopefully get my chance again.”
Whilst he was elated to have made his Premier League bow, the teenager wouldn’t go as far as saying it was better than his debut goal in the Capital One Cup against Middlesbrough last season.
“I don’t know whether it tops my debut goal! But it was another great experience and it’s only going to help me in the future,” said Rossiter. “I just need to push on now – it’s all gone, forget about it.”
