Liverpool hero Jan Molby has heaped praise on Brendan Rodgers for the turnaround of Stewart Downing's form.

Molby has been highly impressed by the wide-man's form and believes Brendan Rodgers deserves credit for the way he has handled the player.

"It's unusual for a manager to be as blunt as Brendan Rodgers was with Stewart Downing - but telling the winger he could leave in January certainly did the trick," Molby told the Liverpool Echo.

"Rodgers got the reaction he was hoping for, with Downing having since become a reliable member of his Liverpool squad.

"Downing continued to impress in last weekend's win over Tottenham. He's playing ever so well - he looks full of running and has got his confidence back."