Brendan Rodgers has faith in Liverpool’s youngsters

Raheem Sterling

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is determined to continue to give youth players a chance in his first-team squad, providing they have the right mentality.

Rodgers led Liverpool to a title challenge right up to the final day of the season until finally being pipped to to the trophy by Manchester City. A huge part of their season was the emergence of two youth players with Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan earning praise throughout the season.

Despite the two making their debuts for the club long before this season, both Sterling and Flanagan reach heights they have previously failed to hit.

And Rodgers is more than happy to continue giving younger players the chance in the first-team, but only if they have the correct attitude.

“I think it’s clear that we’re a football club that is about giving an opportunity to the youth players,” said Rodgers.

“I’m not sure there’s a younger squad of players that has qualified for the Champions League; I’m not sure there’s a younger group that will have finished second.

“It’s my first look – from within. Some of those boys have already sampled the first team. It’s really up to them; age is no barrier for me. If they’re good enough, they’ll be old enough.

“Raheem Sterling displaced full internationals at 17 years of age and has gone on to become a really top-class young player. Jon Flanagan is young. (Philippe) Coutinho we brought in as a 20-year-old.

“Jordon Ibe has played in the first team. So there is an opportunity there for them, but they have got to have the personality – which is key.”

Only Luis Suarez (93) and Eden Hazard (132) completed more take-ons than Sterling (92) in the Premier League this season.