Kenny Dalglish is refusing to give up on a top-four finish at Liverpool and claims he would have no qualms about throwing youngsters into their bid.
Reds boss could give youngsters a chance to impress during run-in
Kenny Dalglish is refusing to give up on a top-four finish at Liverpool and claims he would have no qualms about throwing youngsters into their bid.
The Reds have slipped 12 points adrift of the UEFA Champions League places with just nine games of the season remaining.
It has been put to Dalglish that Liverpool must now tweak their targets, with it possible that he could use the run-in to offer first team football to his crop of promising youngsters.
The Scot admits he may decide to do just that, but has made it clear that he will not be giving up on a place at European football's top table.
"If fourth place was gone we wouldn't be here. You're assuming that it's gone, but we aren't," Dalglish told
Sky Sports News HD.
"We will try to get as much as we possibly can from every game that we are in. If we have to play the kids, then we will play the kids, it's not a problem."
Progress
The likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Jon Flanagan and Jack Robinson have seen their opportunities to impress limited this season, but Dalglish is pleased with their ongoing development.
"We have to maintain their progress and for some of the younger boys in our squad - Flanagan, Robinson, Shelvey - if we were in a better position with injuries they could have gone out on loan playing somewhere," he said.
"But at the same time if they are going to play they have to educate themselves for this football club not another one."
Dalglish has placed great importance on the production of home-grown talent since returning to the Anfield hot-seat, but admits he must be careful in how he handles his stars of tomorrow.
Guidance
"There comes a time when you have to take the nappies off them and see if they have got it," he added.
"If we have to do that we will do it but at all times the most important thing for us is to maintain the thought that we are protecting them for our and their benefit.
"People can shout and bawl about young kids doing well and of course they are doing well.
"But they have done well because they have come here and been looked after in the management and guidance they have had.
"Just trust us to guide them through if they are going to get to the next step and if they are good enough to get there."
