Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has hailed the performance of goalkeeper Alexander Doni after he made his Premier League debut for the club at the weekend against Aston Villa.

The Brazilian made his first start following Pepe Reina's sending off at Newcastle and subsequent suspension and his manager feels the 32-year-old played well and has reaped the rewards for his attitude off the pitch.

"I was a wee bit scared when he did the Cruyff turn against the boy in the box," Dalglish told the club’s official website. "But he was excellent and it's a great credit to him that he's kept himself in such great shape. Because that's his first game since he came to the club.

"He never had much to do, which in itself was a test for a goalkeeper, and he did well - he came and caught a couple of crosses. We were pleased with most of the things we did and if we keep up the same commitment then we'll be okay."

The Scot was also delighted with the young players in the Liverpool team, insisting Jon Flanagan, Jonjo Shelvey and Jordan Henderson had good games against the Villans.

Dalglish admitted it’s tough, for the youngsters in particularly, to play in a team that is out of form.

"I thought Shelvey, Flanagan and Jordan were excellent. We were chasing the game, we wanted to try and win it so we had to put Andy [Carroll] and Bellars [Craig Bellamy] on but it was no reflection on what anyone was doing," he said.

"A change of things sometimes brings you a change of fortune and Danny Agger came on as well. So the young boys have been excellent for us when they've played in the team. At whatever stage this year, they've been excellent.

"They're a great credit to themselves. But sometimes it's unfair on them to be put into a team that's not in the best form that it's capable of being in. But they did brilliantly, the boys."