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Liverpool teenager Jordon Ibe has revealed how a friendly rivalry with fellow flying winger Raheem Sterling is fuelling his impressive pre-season form.

The gifted 17-year-old has been one of the standout performers during the Reds' current tour of the Far East and Australia.

Ibe starred after coming off the bench in the second half of the game against an Indonesia XI in Jakarta last weekend as his lightning pace and intelligent pass helped create a goal for Sterling.

His reward was a start against Melbourne Victory at the MCG on Wednesday and he produced another accomplished display down the right flank.

Ibe's progress has been such that he could find himself competing with Sterling for a place in Brendan Rodgers' side this season.

However, this trip has only served to cement the youngsters' friendship and Ibe says Sterling's advice has been invaluable as he gets used to life in the spotlight.

“Raheem helps me a lot off the pitch,” Ibe said.

“He's a good friend. He tells me what I should do and we talk a lot.

“There's healthy competition there. If he works hard then it makes me want to work hard and if I work hard it makes Raheem work hard.

“We are both young and just starting out in the game. But obviously Raheem has achieved a lot more than me so far.

“He's established in the first team squad and that's where I'm trying to get to myself. If I keep playing well hopefully I can achieve that.”

Ibe has long since been touted as a potential Liverpool star of the future.

The London-born youngster started his career at Wycombe Wanderers and made his first team debut when he was just 15 in August 2011.

Two months later he became their youngest ever goalscorer in the Football League and the Reds' scouts were watching.

In December 2011 Liverpool snapped him up and since then his development at the Kirkby Academy has been swift.

He inspired last season's march to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup and on the final day of the Premier League campaign he got his reward.

Rodgers handed him a surprise start against Queens Park Rangers at Anfield and he grabbed his chance with both hands, setting up the winner for Philippe Coutinho.

Ibe has started pre-season where he left off in May. His sweet strike in the opening friendly victory over Preston was the perfect confidence-boost ahead of a tour which he is unlikely to forget in a hurry.

“It's been an amazing experience for me so far,” he said.

“To spend so much time around the senior players has been really great. I'm learning a lot from them.

“I enjoyed every second of our time in Indonesia and Australia and now I'm looking forward to Thailand.

“The training has been hard work with double sessions each day but it's been enjoyable.

“In Jakarta, the supporters were so fanatic. From the moment we arrived at the airport, it was just brilliant. They really helped us during the match.

“I had never been to Australia either but to walk out in front of 95,000 fans was a great feeling.

“I never played cricket when I was at school, I only played rounders so I didn't really know about the MCG's history.

“But we were told about it. What a stadium and the atmosphere was brilliant. Going on a tour like this just shows you how big this club is. There is so much history associated with it.”

With Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom having all enjoyed spells as first team regulars last season, Ibe knows he's playing for a manager not afraid to put his faith in youth.

“That's the great thing,” he said.

“You know that if you do well then you will get your rewards.

“The gaffer is trying to build a new team here and it's exciting. He has given opportunities to a lot of the young players and it's up to us to take them.

“I love this type of one and two touch passing football he's got us playing.

“I've just tried to give it my best shot both on the training ground and in the games so far. Hopefully I can keep progressing and take it into the new season.”

Rodgers has yet to decide whether Ibe will remain with the first-team squad over the coming months or head back to Kirkby to continue his education.

However, if the humble youngster maintains his current high standards there is no doubt he will become a permanent fixture at Melwood.

“I thought Jordon was outstanding against Melbourne Victory,” Rodgers said.

“He's only 17 and playing in front of 95,000 people, he looked like a star.

“He's an exciting talent and the type of player I love – he can beat people, go past them and he gets fans off their seats.

“He has everything in his game to be a really good player but he still has an awful lot of work to do.

“I wanted to look at Jordon over the course of pre-season as I liked what I saw from last season.

“Having brought him into our environment, I wanted to see how he evolves within that.

“The idea is to have him with us in pre-season and then we'll make a judgement on him then. So far he's been very good.”