Adam Lewis' senior Liverpool debut was a fitting reward for the work he has put in since returning from injury, according to U23s boss Neil Critchley.
Lewis started preparations for 2019-20 on a high as he joined Jürgen Klopp’s first-team squad for the summer pre-season schedule.
The 20-year-old then continued his progress with a place on the bench during the Carabao Cup third-round win at MK Dons in September but, three days later, sustained knee injury that kept him out of action for four months.
However, Scouser Lewis recovered and played in last week's FA Cup replay victory against Shrewsbury Town - and seeing him make his first-team bow for his boyhood club gave Critchley great pleasure.