Friday, September 21, 2012

Rodgers Hails Liverpool Youngsters

Brendan Rodgers has praised the performance of his younger players after watching over a successful start to Liverpool’s Europa League group stage endeavour via a 5-3 away win against Young Boys. The BBC reports that the manager was impressed by the courage on show from the largely inexperienced group.

The BBC adds that the average age of the side was 24, and that even takes into account the presence of 34-year-old centre-back Jamie Carragher. Carragher formed part of a back four that also had 19-year-old Andre Wisdom playing at right-back, while Wisdom was joined on the score sheet by 20-year-old Jonjo Shelvey, who netted twice. The other goals came from a Young Boys own goal and a Sebastian Coates header.

As well as Wisdom, 18-year-old Suso made his debut, as did summer signing Oussama Assiadi, 24, while Dani Pacheco, 21 and 17-year-old Raheem Sterling started also. The rest of the side was made up of recognizable names who have found themselves on the fringes of the first team under Rodgers, including England international Jordan Henderson.

Rodgers said: “It was a chance for the young players to seize that opportunity to play and I think they did that. It is a night of great pride for the club and certainly me as a manager.”

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