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Joe Gomez and Jordon Ibe have chance to impress new Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Pair will be in Under-21 action for England on Tuesday night

Tuesday 13 October 2015 07:46 BST

Jordan Ibe (GETTY IMAGES)

Gareth Southgate has thrown down the gauntlet to Liverpool's Joe Gomez and Jordon Ibe to impress Jurgen Klopp.

The England Under-21 boss believes the duo must forget the disappointment of Brendan Rodgers' sacking and focus on forcing their way into Klopp's Anfield plan.

The pair could feature for Southgate's side in their Euro 2017 qualifier with Kazakhstan in Coventry on Tuesday as England bid to maintain their winning start to Group Nine.

Klopp replaced the axed Rodgers at Liverpool last week and Southgate believes winger Ibe and defender Gomez must take their chances early.

"I guess they already know that they've got to impress a new manager," he said. "They are both disappointed because somebody who has picked them and given them a chance has gone and I think it's important that players remember that.

"Once they've done that they have to be ready to impress the new manager that comes in because that's the life of a footballer.

"I have spoken to them both because we always spend a lot of time individually with players to find out how they are and how they're doing at their club.

"They have been very focused on what we're doing."

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Show all 11

1/11Lithuania vs England player ratings

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Jack Butland: 7 out of 10

Hardly saw the ball in the first half, but reacted well when faced with Spalvis’ shot with the score 1-0 – making a fine one-handed save to deny the Lithuania striker – before dealing with Slivka’s chipped free-kick in the second half.

2015 Getty Images

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Kyle Walker: 6 out of 10

Had a couple of disappointing moments on the ball when defending and attacking, but combined well with Oxlade-Chamberlain in the second half to set up the Arsenal man for his goal.

2015 Getty Images

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Phil Jones: 6 out of 10

Was solid alongside Jagielka in the heart of England’s defence although the duo were never really tested.

2015 Getty Images

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Phil Jagielka: 6 out of 10

Performed well on his first outing as England captain, marshalling his back line well despite the lack of cutting edge from Lithuania’s forwards.

2015 Getty Images

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Kieran Gibbs: 6 out of 10

The left-back was never really threatened down his flank and regularly moved forwards to help England build their attacks, exemplified when he cut inside to set up Vardy on the stroke of half time.

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Jonjo Shelvey: 5 out of 10

The Swansea midfielder was involved in some of England’s attacks, but didn’t really have any trouble containing Lithuania’s midfielders in front of the defence.

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 8 out of 10

After a quiet first half, the Arsenal winger sprang into action in the second period after scoring England’s third of the night and nearly creating another with his fine pass to Kane minutes earlier.

2015 Getty Images

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Adam Lallana: 6 out of 10

Set up England’s second goal with his neat flick to Kane and linked up well several times with the England striker. Was replaced by Alli in the 66th minute but enjoyed a good game.

2015 Getty Images

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Ross Barkley: 8 out of 10

Started the game further back but proved the difference after scoring a superb goal in the 28th minute to give England the lead before testing Arlauskis with a fine header in the second half. Was replaced by Townsend with 20 minutes to go.

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Jamie Vardy: 5 out of 10

Endured a disappointing night in Vilnius after allowing Novikovas to get past him too easily to test Butland with a shot and – after being set up by Gibbs – opting to go for goal instead of finding a team-mate. Was shown a yellow card for encroachment with 10 minutes to go.

2015 Getty Images

Lithuania vs England player ratings

Harry Kane: 7 out of 10

Looked bright throughout the game and tested Arlauskis with several early chances before he set up Barkley for the opener. The striker’s good work on the ball ended in England taking a 2-0 lead - although his goal was officially given as an own goal – and should have made it 3-0 before being taken off. Still, a positive game for the Spurs star.

But Southgate believes the duo are in good hands with Klopp, who nurtured Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski at Borussia Dortmund, and that a new manager at Anfield is good for their motivation ahead of England's game at the Ricoh Arena.

"With player development it's a long process but Germany in general is a model," said Southgate, who has a fully fit squad.

"I'm sure he put players in at Dortmund that he believed in and thought had the ability and the boys have got to prove that when they go back.

"I think there's enough motivation to want to impress at international level anyway but the club dynamic gives them something extra.

"If motivation is high for other reasons then that's good for us as a team."

PA

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