In spite of another summer of spending, Jordon Ibe featured in Liverpool’s opening two games, as Brendan Rodgers promised he would. The club has high hopes for the teenager they picked up from Wycombe Wanderers and if it is a worry that Ibe has not yet scored a goal since breaking into the first team last season there are people around Anfield who can help.

“I know there is stuff I need to work on, goalscoring being one of the main things and I came in for extra sessions over summer to get a bit more coaching and practice,” the 19-year-old says. “The first day I came in it was just Alex Inglethorpe [the academy head] and me doing some work on shooting and crossing. The second day Kenny Dalglish turned up to help. I wasn’t expecting that. Alex had fixed it up as a surprise without telling me, but I was very happy about it.

“Kenny has scored some great goals in his time but he also scored all types of goals, from tap-ins to 30-yarders. It was great to get advice from someone of his status. He told me to always be positive, to try shots from anywhere around the box and to make sure I always try to get into the box when I haven’t got the ball. That’s what I wanted to do with Alex anyway. I need to get into the areas where the ball might come when the opposite winger is crossing it.”

Ibe admits his goalscoring record is bothering him – “It gets on my nerves at times. I know I put too much pressure on myself but all I can do is hope the first one comes along” – though the player Liverpool really want to get on the end of crosses is their £32m striker Christian Benteke. Before the Belgian’s arrival Liverpool’s game had been mostly on the ground but Ibe plays down suggestions that this season will see a change to a more direct style.

“We just have more options now,” he says. “The other team might be really defensive so if we can get the ball to the wings then into the box, it gives us another alternative. We’ve got someone in the box who can head the ball now. If we can get the crosses in I would say Christian is always going to win his header. He’s a great player and a top signing for us.

“The aspect of my game I need to learn more about is crossing the ball early enough. If I can do that I can add assists to my game and not just worry about goals. I’m fairly happy with my form so far but I still think I could do much better, especially attacking the full-back. Hopefully, with more games I will get more confidence and be better in the fixtures to come.”

Liverpool have started reasonably well, with two 1-0 wins, against Stoke and Bournemouth, though Ibe is aware tomorrow’s visit to Arsenal represents a sterner test. For a club with top-four aspirations, Liverpool’s record against the leading sides last season could have been better: they managed a single victory against the teams that finished in the Champions League positions.

“Liverpool is a big club, we want to be in the Champions League, so it is vital for us to win against the top clubs and the lowest teams in the league,” says Ibe. “Our aim is to try to win every game. It might not be possible but whether it’s Arsenal or Stoke it’s all about the three points.”