Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is planning to use teenager Jordon Ibe "heavily" throughout the coming season.

The Reds are fighting on four fronts this year and will kick off their Premier League campaign away at Stoke City in little over a week, and Ibe - who impressed throughout pre-season, scoring a sensational effort in their final tour game in Malaysia, is likely to play a major role.

Though the 19-year-old only fought his way into the first-team earlier this calendar year after a successful loan spell at Derby County, he excelled in a short space of time - leaving him to be seen as the man to take over from Raheem Sterling, who left for Manchester City earlier this summer.

The versatile forward will prove a useful asset for the Reds, who will be hoping to push back into the top-four and fight for silverware - and Rodgers has high hopes for Ibe, who he admitted he wants to create into a "top-class performer" by giving him the time and "creating the environment" for him to progress.

Ibe was a prominent figure in the Reds' pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia, where he was one of the only players to feature in all four games and Rodgers hailed his "year-on-year" improvement.

The Northern Irishman explained how exciting the Englishman is to watch, but remained cautious in insisting that he "still has a lot of potential and work to do."

Ibe set for regular Reds' first-team role this season

Rodgers, who has been known for gifting younger players opportunities in the first-team, added that Ibe will "feature heavily this year" after making 12 appearances last season.

Ibe's form has been a major positive for the Reds, whose top-four charge fell away in dramatic fashion last season - and he signed a new long-term contract with the club recently to commit his future on Merseyside.

Rodgers said it is easy to forget that the youngster, who was picked up from Wycombe Wanderers three years ago, is still only 19 - and he believes that his time in the Championship, where he scored five goals in 20 games, benefitted his development. 

"We felt he needed a loan, has gone out and did really well," Rodgers added. "When he came back last season he was exceptional in his performances. I think he really excites the supporters."