Jordan Rossiter is hoping for more first-team chances at Liverpool after making his Premier League debut for Brendan Rodgers' side at Arsenal on Monday.
The 18-year-old replaced Lucas Leiva with a quarter of an hour remaining and impressed in his cameo as the two sides were forced to settle for a point in a riveting goalless draw.
The clash marked Academy graduate Rossiter's second ever first-team appearance, after making his debut in a closely-fought Capital One Cup clash against Middlesbrough and scoring from distance after just 10 minutes.
And a delighted Rossiter, who came into the squad after an injury to captain Jordan Henderson, hailed his evening at the Emirates Stadium as a "great experience."
Rossiter delighted to make first league appearance
The tough tackling central midfielder said he was "over the moon" to have made his league debut in front of 60,000 supporters, admitting that he "didn't expect it" and couldn't believe it.
A local lad who joined the Reds at the age of six, Rossiter said that he found out he was being included in Rodgers' travelling squad the day before the game, before being told a few hours before kick-off that he would take up a place on the bench.
It came just days after the Northern Irishman said the youngster would be staying whilst a number of his under-21 team-mates go out on loan spells.
Then, Rodgers called him a "valuable player" despite his age, hailing his maturity and hinting that he will be a prominent figure in the Europa League and domestic cup competitions.
Rossiter added that Rodgers called him over with half-an-hour left of the game and told him to warm up as there was a chance he may get on.
Despite confessing that he was nerves, he added that he was excited and just tried to concentrate on doing his "best for the team" - which in the end helped them to a "great point."
Midfielder hoping to be given more first-team chances
Rossiter has risen through the ranks quickly at the Liverpool Academy, becoming a regular in the under-21s as early as the age of 16.
The teenager was recognising for his efforts after being awarded Liverpool's Academy Player of the Year at the end of the 2013-14 season.
Having made his first-team debut last term, he was also named as skipper for the Reds' UEFA Youth League campaign, but despite being named as a substitute in several more first-team fixtures, an ankle injury curtailed his progress for a few months.
But having recovered fully, England under-18 international Rossiter is ready to make up for lost time after impressing on the Reds' pre-season tour of Bangkok, Brisbane, Adelaide and Kuala Lumpur.
He admitted he had to remain patient for his first game, because Liverpool is a club "with brilliant players competing for every position."
Central midfield is one of the strongest areas in the Liverpool squad, though Henderson and Joe Allen are currently out through injury - but Rossiter said that with Rodgers as the club's manager - "you will get chances" if you're good enough "because of the faith he shows in young players."
Rodgers has previously handed the likes of Raheem Sterling, Jordon Ibe, Jerome Sinclair, Andre Wisdom and Joao Carlos Teixeira debuts since becoming boss in 2012, and Rossiter said the way in which he values the importance of blooding in young players from the Academy gives "young lads" like himself "real hope."
The highly-rated midfielder, who was likened to a young Steven Gerrard by Robbie Fowler two years ago, says he's still got "a lot to learn" but that he will keep "working hard and trying to improve" to ensure he gets more chances throughout the season.
Liverpool under-21s boss hails "special moment"
Liverpool U21 manager Michael Beale revealed how Rossiter's team-mates let off a "big cheer" when they saw the no.46 enter the field of play.
After boarding their team bus shortly after a 2-1 loss away at Reading, Beale's side turned their attentions to the first-team's exploits and said it was a "special moment" for them all as he has been a prominent figure "for a number of years."
The U21s boss said Rossiter had a "fantastic pre-season" and worked very hard behind the scenes to ensure he was ready to start with the rest of the squad, something which Beale disclosed "really impressed" the first-team staff.
He added that Rossiter's fearless attitude has a "big effect" on the group, because he "isn't scared" of being amongst the club's well-known names.
Beale predicted that he will "kick on" and become a "real valued member" of Liverpool's first-team because of his mentality and character, which he hailed as a "huge asset" which is allowing Rossiter to "do himself proud."