Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is pleased with the development of his youngsters this season.
Reds bossed pleased with development
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is pleased with the development of his youngsters this season.
The Reds handed 19-year-old Daniel Pacheco and 20-year-old Martin Kelly new three-year contracts on Friday as they showed how keen they are to hold onto their young talent.
Hodgson opted to pick a number of inexperienced players in the 1-1 Europa League draw with Steaua Bucharest in midweek, as Liverpool secured their progression to the knockout rounds.
"It was a game where we knew we would be put under some pressure but the way they kept their shape and discipline was impressive," he said.
Experience
"Now they have got through that test they can be more than satisfied because they will learn a lot from that game.
"You would have to play many, many reserve matches to get the type of experience games like that bring you.
"It is great for me that got through the game, done well, and with the games coming up we will be needing these players.
"If we had lost the game we would have all, and I include myself, been wondering what would have happened if I had just taken the team that did well against West Ham and Tottenham.
"But sometimes in football when you have a lot of matches one after the other you have to make decisions which are correct for the long-term future of the club.
"The decision we made to play these players paid off and in the long term we will gain an awful lot from it."
The youngsters are set to continue in the side for the final Group K clash with Utrecht on Wednesday, and Hodgson was particularly impressed by Kelly and Pacheco last time out.
He added: "In particular it was good for me to see Martin Kelly continuing where he left off in the games he has had but perhaps even more so for people like Dani Pacheco, Danny Wilson and Nathan Eccleston (all 19 or under)."
