Forgotten Flanagan wants Liverpool first-XI role; explains his feelings when Burnley beat us

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Jon Flanagan, Liverpool’s on-loan fullback, is bullish about his future at Anfield – claiming he still has ambitions of eventually convincing Jurgen Klopp he’s good enough for a starting berth.

The 23-year-old was sent to Burnley for the campaign this summer, with Klopp convinced the Scouser needed consistent first-team football following his lengthy injury absence which lasted the entirety of 2014/15 and the first half of 2015/16.

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We don’t have natural backup for Nathaniel Clyne at right-back (although Trent Alexander-Arnold is proving very worthy), so Klopp’s decision to let Flanagan go doesn’t bode well for his future.

What’s more, the Englishman has only been given one start in the Premier League by Sean Dyche, coming off the bench on a further two occasions. Ironically due to our EFL Cup run, he’d have got more minutes in all competitions if he’d stayed at Liverpool…

“I just want to play regular football and get back into the routine I was in two years ago,” Flanagan told the Mail on Sunday.

“I never doubted for one second I’d be back, I’m mentally tough.”

“We’ll see where it goes from there, and hopefully get back to Liverpool and a starting place. My ideal season? Burnley to qualify for the Europa League and Liverpool to win the League.”

We’re not confident in truth, as despite Liverpool offering him a new contract last term, it’s clear Klopp doesn’t rate him especially highly.

Flanagan also spoke about what it was like earlier in the campaign when his loan club somehow beat Liverpool, despite us dominating entirely.

“It was strange,” he said.

“Every week I want Liverpool to win – my dad used to take me home and away, my idols were Stevie G, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher – but this is my club now. Getting the three points against them was a good day.”

We hope he can force his way into Burnley’s side and just play consistently, for now.

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