Emre: Why there will be good days ahead

The towering German featured as the Reds' 13-game unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League came shuddering to a halt against Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

Juan Mata's brace of goals inflicted a 2-1 defeat - the side's first loss in the league since they were beaten 3-0 by United at Old Trafford back in December last year.

Liverpool went from strength to strength in the three months that followed that loss to Louis van Gaal's team, with a youthful outfit propelling itself to within touching distance of a top-four spot.

Sunday's reversal may have dealt a blow to the Reds' ambitions of securing a Champions League place this season, but Can believes the side will only get better as they continue to progress.

"I definitely feel we're at the start of a new era," said the 21-year-old. "It's a very, very young team with Phillippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and Lazar Markovic.

"But I think the team needs to keep improving, and continue doing what we're doing at the moment to get to these years. But I believe there are good years ahead."

The composed and commanding nature of Can's displays throughout recent months moved Brendan Rodgers to label the midfielder a 'Rolls-Royce' of a player following his performance in the 0-0 draw with Everton at Goodison Park.

And while Can struggled to get to grips with the initial comparisons, he insists the praise from his manager has only served to heighten what was already burgeoning confidence.

"I feel very good at the moment. I feel the trust of the manager and I feel I'm doing a good job, that's why I'm playing - so I'm happy," said the Germany U21 international.

"I'm proud that a manager of the status of Brendan Rodgers said something like that about me in this way but I know it's a long way to go and I need to keep giving my best to get there one day, I have to keep on working.

"Rolls-Royce footballer? I know what it means but we would not use that expression in Germany at all. I'd never heard it before. I obviously thought it's a big, luxurious car so I just associated positive things with it."

As Jamie Carragher prepares to make a return to Anfield's hallowed turf this weekend in the All-Star charity match, the man who currently occupies his iconic No.23 shirt will be on international duty with Germany U21s.

Can has revealed he asked for the Bootle boy's number upon arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer - and insists he is fully aware of the challenge of trying to fill Carragher's boots.

"I'm obviously aware of the importance of No.23 in Liverpool history," he said. "It's a big honour for me to wear the No.23 after Carragher retired but I don't feel any extra pressure as such.

"At the end of the day it's a number that you play and the team has to pick a number. For me it wouldn't make a difference to wear 23 or 99, I always go out there and do my best for the team.

"But I definitely wanted the No.23 because there is a high importance for this number - I actively asked for it."