Brendan Rodgers hints at Europa League chance for youngsters

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Brendan Rodgers has suggested that ending up in next season’s Europa League may not be as bad as it seems, as it will allow him the opportunity to use some of the talented youngsters within our squad.

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The competition has seemingly lost much of its prestige in recent years, as clubs with smaller squads, or ones with less quality, have found that their Premier League form has suffered by the demanding schedule involved. And let’s face it, we would rather be playing in the Champions League again.

Realistically however, it may now be too difficult to break into the top four in the final three games, and we certainly don’t look as if we shall fall out of the top seven. So Thursday night football beckons.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Northern Irishman does not believe that featuring in the competition will damage our chances of getting back towards the summit of the table, as he is willing to use the game to bring in some fresher faces.

“If you go back to my first year here when we were in the Europa League it was in that competition that we found some of our young players. I gave a lot of them the opportunity, a chance for the likes of Raheem and Andre Wisdom and young Suso, and in the end we finished on the top of that group with 10 points.

“So yeah it will be an opportunity for young players I’m sure and a competition that we will want to do well in,” he said.

Any fears that some of those players will be unable to make the step up this time around, look at the quality on show in last week’s mini-Derby. Ryan Kent may have stolen the headlines due to his two cracking strikes, but the likes of Sheyi Ojo and Harry Wilson also displayed moments of brilliance during the 3-1 win.

More Stories Brendan Rodgers Europa League Harry Wilson Ryan Kent Sheyi Ojo