Rossiter reflects on 'dream' debut for LFC
With a puff of the cheeks and a beaming smile as bright as the Anfield floodlights, young Jordan Rossiter encapsulates in one gesture how it feels to have scored on his Liverpool debut.
Head shaking in modest disbelief, the 17-year-old is typically endearing and grounded as he fields questions from within the famous old tunnel, reflecting on a night he'll cherish forever.
Long before Liverpool and Middlesbrough traded blows in a penalty shootout that seemed to last for an eternity and required 30 spot-kicks to separate the sides, Rossiter seized his opportunity with stunning conviction.
Rickie Lambert's shot rebounded off Jamal Blackman, the Boro goalkeeper, and rolled into the debutant's path, 30 yards from the goal and Rossiter drove low, precisely, between four players and into the back of the net.
"I can't remember exactly what I was thinking at the time," the Reds' No.46 admitted to Liverpoolfc.com. "I just thought, 'Make good contact'. I was half thinking about going over them [the Boro defenders] but luckily I didn't.
"To make my debut is a dream come true. I got told I was starting on Monday and I was a bit shocked, to be honest. But I just couldn't wait to get out there and it couldn't have gone better.
"I can't put it into words. When I scored, I didn't know what to do. I just ran off celebrating, but it was a great experience."
As it dawned on those inside Anfield that the figure who had thrashed home the Reds' opener so convincingly was the local lad Rossiter, the decibel levels seemed to ratchet up in celebration.
The added sense of pride was palpable; the scorer was a player who first donned the Liver Bird for the club as early as U6 level and one who has risen through the Academy ranks relentlessly in recent years.
Reds icon Jamie Carragher even took to Twitter to insist he had not celebrated a goal quite so passionately since he raced across the Istanbul turf to mob Jerzy Dudek in the Champions League final of 2005.
Rossiter, however, is keen to remain focused. "I know personally that this is just the start," he insisted. "I've got to keep my feet on the ground.
"The manager just told me that I had done well. I need to keep on improving and to stay in and around the first team, while improving for the U21s week in, week out. I'm still a long way away from being in the first team. I'm still only 17."