Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has defended his decision to use fringe first-teamers in the Carling Cup rather than adopt Arsenal's tactics of putting out a team of youngsters.
None of the players who lined up in red for the start of Liverpool's Carling Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur were products of the club's academy. This is a direct contrast to their title rivals Arsenal, who use the competition as a means of blooding youngsters.
Liverpool-born Stephen Darby did make a substitute appearance late on, but this almost seems like a token gesture on the part of the Liverpool boss, who is nevertheless expected to name Darby in his squad for this weekend's game at Bolton Wanderers, as Alvaro Arbeloa is suspended and Philipp Degen injured.
The Liverpool team at Spurs consisted mainly of more experienced players in need of a game, but Benitez justified his choice and insisted that there are young, English players coming through at Anfield - they're just not quite ready yet.
“Our young players will need more time," said the Spaniard.
"I decided to use the other members of the squad rather than very young players, mainly because the seniors needed to play matches.
“I have to think about having senior men ready to play in the Premier League as the season progresses. I was also concerned that we were playing against a Spurs side who have been doing very well, maybe it was not the game for teenagers.
“We used senior squad players and they did not play well. Fernando Torres played 55 minutes and did not play well, if the big names do not perform then you cannot blame the young players.
“We have good young players, the future for the club is brilliant. We have good, young, local players and they are working well.”
Benitez was annoyed when his policy was directly compared with that of Arsenal, whose youngsters swept Wigan Athletic out of the competition.
“Do not compare us with Arsenal,” he said.
“They have been paying big, big money for young players for all the time that Arsene Wenger has been there.
“It is not about the age of players, it is about quality. Sometimes you have to pay big money for the best young players around, and that is what Arsenal have done.
“But Arsenal were being criticised only recently for using too many inexperienced youngsters. Then they beat Manchester United and Wigan and everyone says they are fantastic.
“It is important to be calm, look to the long term, and see the bigger picture.”
It will be interesting to see whether any young local players do emerge at Anfield. The city of Liverpool is rich with football tradition and fans love local-born legends like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
And, as Benitez himself said, “If you had to choose between local players or foreign players of the same ability, that is easy, you would go with the local boys because they have more passion."
None of the players who lined up in red for the start of Liverpool's Carling Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur were products of the club's academy. This is a direct contrast to their title rivals Arsenal, who use the competition as a means of blooding youngsters.
Liverpool-born Stephen Darby did make a substitute appearance late on, but this almost seems like a token gesture on the part of the Liverpool boss, who is nevertheless expected to name Darby in his squad for this weekend's game at Bolton Wanderers, as Alvaro Arbeloa is suspended and Philipp Degen injured.
The Liverpool team at Spurs consisted mainly of more experienced players in need of a game, but Benitez justified his choice and insisted that there are young, English players coming through at Anfield - they're just not quite ready yet.
“Our young players will need more time," said the Spaniard.
"I decided to use the other members of the squad rather than very young players, mainly because the seniors needed to play matches.
“I have to think about having senior men ready to play in the Premier League as the season progresses. I was also concerned that we were playing against a Spurs side who have been doing very well, maybe it was not the game for teenagers.
“We used senior squad players and they did not play well. Fernando Torres played 55 minutes and did not play well, if the big names do not perform then you cannot blame the young players.
“We have good young players, the future for the club is brilliant. We have good, young, local players and they are working well.”
Benitez was annoyed when his policy was directly compared with that of Arsenal, whose youngsters swept Wigan Athletic out of the competition.
“Do not compare us with Arsenal,” he said.
“They have been paying big, big money for young players for all the time that Arsene Wenger has been there.
“It is not about the age of players, it is about quality. Sometimes you have to pay big money for the best young players around, and that is what Arsenal have done.
“But Arsenal were being criticised only recently for using too many inexperienced youngsters. Then they beat Manchester United and Wigan and everyone says they are fantastic.
“It is important to be calm, look to the long term, and see the bigger picture.”
It will be interesting to see whether any young local players do emerge at Anfield. The city of Liverpool is rich with football tradition and fans love local-born legends like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
And, as Benitez himself said, “If you had to choose between local players or foreign players of the same ability, that is easy, you would go with the local boys because they have more passion."
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