Martin Kelly Relishing Being Thrown In At The Deep End

Martin Kelly is enjoying the steep ‘learning curve’ of his rapid rise to Liverpool’s first team under Kenny Dalglish.

The 20-year-old has been the Scot’s choice at right-back in his three games in charge of the club.

And the Whiston-born defender is relishing the challenge of being thrown in at the Premiership deep end.

Kelly said: “I'm made up with my own form.

“Hopefully I'll keep training well and get a chance to play.

“It's the first time I've played three games in a week.

“It's pretty tough on you mentally as well as physically, but it’s all a learning curve.

“In the Premier League, Europa League and Champions League you need to play three times a week, so it's really good to do that.”

Kelly, who came through the ranks primarily as a central defender, is impressively managing to ward off competition from England’s number one right back.

Glen Johnson was played as a left back for the recent games at Blackpool and in the 125th Merseyside derby on Sunday.

Kelly believes the impact of new boss Dalglish is already having a marked effect on the Liverpool squad.

He said: “The team is coming together a lot more.

“We are all enjoying training and there have been some feisty challenges.

“It's good to have that in training.

“I think we are all working together as a team.

“He (Dalglish) has put points in place how he wants us to play.”

Kelly was largely selected for Europa League games under previous manager Roy Hodgson and made just two league starts when the 63-year-old was at the helm.

But already, he has won praise from Dalglish for his performances against Manchester United at Old Trafford and Blackpool at Bloomfield Road where his pass set up Fernando Torres for the Reds’ opener.

The England U-21 international stressed the competitiveness of this year’s Premiership and called for unity to turn Liverpool’s results around.

He added: “The things we are doing in training are starting to come together on the pitch.

“It will only be a matter of time now before we start getting the results as well as the performances.

“We were fighting and the equalizer came. We could have gone on to get a winner but it wasn't meant to be.

“We've just got to look forward to the next game now.

“The Premier League is a lot closer this season. We have got to stick together as a team.”