Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has praised Javi Manquillo after the Spanish full-back earned the late penalty to help the Reds beat Ludogorets Razgrad 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The on-loan defender was brought down by Ludogorets goalkeeper Milan Borjan in stoppage time, moments after the Reds had been pegged back by Dani Abalo's equaliser.
Gerrard dispatched the resulting spot kick, and the skipper was delighted with the contribution of the 20-year-old Manquillo.
He told the club's official website: "That's the type of defender he is; he's on the front foot, he's aggressive, he's very attacking and he got his reward tonight by being brave and ambitious.
"Even just being down that end of the field - a lot of full-backs would have been staying back and trying to get a draw out of the game.
"But he chased down a lost ball and we got rewarded for it. I think he's done very well since he's come in - not just [against Ludogorets]."
The Reds travel to West Ham United on Saturday.
Paul Gorst
