Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is convinced of the quality of Reading defender Alex Pearce.

The Mirror says Rodgers was an academy coach at Reading when new Republic of Ireland international Pearce was emerging from the system and gave him his debut at the Madejski Stadium.

Pearce, 24, who has also represented Scotland under 21, played in all of Reading's matches as the rose to last season's Championship title.

But in recent matches Pearce has been displaced by Adrian Mariappa and now Sean Morrison in the heart of the Royals' defence.

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