McConnell, 19, enjoys a day to remember with Reds midfielder getting an assist

Alexis Mac Allister isn't the only midfielder nicknamed 'Macca' to be moulded into a No 6 on Merseyside this season. With the World Cup winner missing with a minor injury, up stepped 19-year-old James McConnell to make his first Liverpool start.

The teenager was born in Newcastle and poached from the Sunderland academy as an Under-15 player and has been long touted as a potential first-teamer, but his developments this season have taken even those who have watched him regularly by surprise.

McConnell has captained age-group sides and spent most of his youth career in a more advanced role but this season he has matured into a deep-lying playmaker, akin to Mac Allister who was signed from Brighton, where he played predominantly as a No 8.

He earned rave reviews from Jurgen Klopp after being part of the travelling squad to Singapore in pre-season, where he looked awestruck to be playing among Liverpool's heavyweight stars, and that saw him fight his way on to the substitutes' bench for several first-team games.

The youngster has made three appearances as a substitute, two in the Europa League and a single minute off the bench against Brentford in the Premier League, but this match will be a day he remembers above all.

After leaving the pitch to a standing ovation after going down, presumably with cramp, deep into the second half, McConnell was greeted by a bear hug from his grateful manager, Klopp. The German looked genuinely delighted at the midfielder's display.

His standout moment was the cushioned, chipped pass to Curtis Jones to set up Liverpool's opener in the first half. But there were plenty of good touches from McConnell, who completed 72 passes and was always open for passes.

McConnell's successes are part of a wider