Liverpool 3 Exeter 0: Jon Flanagan’s long-awaited return revives link with home-grown tradition

Full-back’s first game back rapturously received by the Kop

Jon Flanagan’s appearance last night was his first in 19 months following a succession of knee injuries (Getty Images)

There was a delicious coincidence relating to the presence of Matty Oakley stomping about in Exeter City’s midfield on this freezing January night, for it was almost 17 years ago to the day that he did the same in a Southampton shirt, summoned as a substitute for David Howells in the final half-hour of a 7-1 crushing.

Rick Parry, Liverpool’s former chief executive, looks back on that particular victory with greater fondness than any other: all of Liverpool’s scorers had emerged from the club’s centre of excellence; a moment in history that had never been accomplished before and in all likelihood will never happen again.

Robbie Fowler had recorded a hat-trick by the 47th minute. Then Michael Owen got in on the act, along with Dominic Matteo and David Thompson. Jamie Carragher was in involved too, one of only five goals during a career which spanned 737 full-blooded appearances.

A few months before, in the closing weeks of 1998, Liverpool’s youth scheme changed to academy status, relocating from their facility near Anfield to a greenfield site outside the city boundaries in Kirkby.

In the early nineties, during those intense sessions on cold Tuesday and Thursday evenings, when Anfield was a brooding presence on the horizon, Steve Heighway, the legend in charge of the youth set-up, reminded all of those under his wing that only a fool would believe himself an established professional footballer before he had played in a century of league games.

And yet, since moving to Kirkby, Liverpool have stopped producing their own players. Last night Jon Flanagan was included in Liverpool’s match-day squad for the first time in 19 months following a succession of knee injuries, and the sight of him warming-up at half-time was just as relevant as Oakley’s.

In the absence of a Gerrard or a Carragher, Flanagan is considered by many as the one capable of reinforcing Jürgen Klopp’s team with local iron. His record may have been healthier had it not been for misfortune, yet it is damning that a 23-year-old with just 42 games behind him is statistically superior than any other graduate who has progressed through the Kirkby system. Heighway’s mantra has been lost somewhere.

Flanagan once lived in a terraced house behind the famous Arkles public house, which makes him – along with David Fairclough – the player to have grown-up closest to Anfield. Before games, the full-back used to “mind” the cars of visiting supporters and travelled across Europe watching Liverpool before the demands of his own professional career took over.

When Flanagan was introduced by Klopp six minutes after the break, the roar rumbled from the bowels of the Kop. Straight away, Flanagan began barking orders at Tiago Ilori, appearing to remind him that Liverpool were only 1-0 up against opponents from the bottom tier of English league football.

That lead was facilitated by Brad Smith, whose equaliser had taken this tie to a replay. The Australian was making his home debut – a feat that must have seemed impossible when he had a trial with Barnsley that almost cleared the way for a move.

Klopp is not the first Liverpool manager to hand opportunities to young players in the opening months of a new reign. Rafael Benitez tried Darren Potter. Kenny Dalglish promoted Flanagan. Brendan Rodgers used Raheem Sterling, Suso and Jerome Sinclair, a trio signed as teenagers for considerable fees.

Sheyi Ojo is the latest to have been recruited in that manner. Liverpool’s scouts considered him of greater talent than Dele Alli when the pair were spotted playing for MK Dons youth teams. His signing was given a priority status and with that a deal was negotiated and smoothed by the involvement of Dons’ manager Karl Robinson, who began his coaching life in Kirkby.

When Ojo – another Anfield debutant – tricked the two Exeter sentries deployed to stop him before unloading an unerring shot in front of the Kop, thus securing the result in Liverpool’s favour, time appeared to stand still.

Maybe the influence of Kirkby still holds some relevance.