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Jurgen Klopp hailed Jon Flanagan as his man of the match as the young Scouse defender returned to the starting Liverpool line-up for the first time in 626 days.

The last day of the 2013/14 season against Newcastle was Flanagan's last start for the Reds but an injury to Nathaniel Clyne saw him make a fairytale return to the starting eleven in the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at Anfield.

While Liverpool lost the game in 90 minutes 1-0, they went on to secure a Wembley spot for the final after winning through on penalties 6-5.

WATCH: Klopp on getting to the final and the match

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Flanagan has lost none of his bite, making early strong challenges on Pieters and Arnautovic and provided an attacking threat in the second half in particular, sending a lovely ball across the Kop goal and almost getting on the end of a Moreno cross.

IN PICS: Liverpool head to Wembley

The 23-year-old was finally withdrawn midway through extra time – although his manager revealed he could have gone on.

Asked about Flanagan's contribution, Klopp said: “My man of the match. He was great.

“105 minutes after – you know it better than me – May 2014, right?

“So it's unbelievable making this match. Usually of course we know it's not the best thing (playing so long) but we had no other choice and we always were in contact with him, asking Flanno.

“Even when we took him out he was saying 'I could go on'. That was really great and with all the problems you lose the feeling for the game, you can lose it in shorter times. You can do all your things with the ball, that's what you don' t forget, but defending in the right spaces, we defend different maybe than when he played last time.

“He did really great, man of the match for me for sure.”

Before the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final, Flanagan had played just 40 minutes for the first team in the FA Cup tie against Exeter and several outings for the U21s.

WATCH: Klopp on a dramatic penalty shootout