Lively pal kept providing moral-boosting words (3,4)
I believe the answer is:
pep talk
'moral-boosting words' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'lively pal kept' is the wordplay.
'lively' indicates anagramming the letters (letters get livened up or moved around).
'pal'+'kept'='palkept'
'palkept' is an anagram of 'PEP TALK'.
'providing' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pep talk that I've seen before include "Inspiring address" , "Invigorating address" , "Encouraging chat" , "one given by investment adviser in the nineties?" , "Strongly-worded address to arouse enthusiasm" .)