Liverpool U21 coach Barry Lewtas was happy to hand Amara Nallo a debut in their Premier League International Cup draw with Benfica.
Just 16, centre-half Nallo arrived in August from West Ham United.
Lewtas told liverpoolfc.com: "Amara was excellent. Him and Carter Pinnington have been playing quite regularly for us so far together. Listen, he is just 16, and I don't think we've ever asked a lad that young to play at centre-back against senior opposition. He should be really proud of his performance.
"I think the main thing for Amara is he played ever so well but he didn't let any kind of mistakes or momentum shifts in the game affect him. So he didn't play like a 16-year-old, that's for sure."
Lewtas also had a word for James McConnell.
He added: "Unbelievable! For James to be on the bench at Anfield in the Merseyside derby and then start for us, I thought he did ever so well and took his goal well. He is showing us lots of different things to his game this year, playing as a No.6, scoring headers. It just goes to show what he can do."