Winning habit can help Benitez blood youngsters

Nov 10 2007 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

IF EVER there was a Premier League fixture that Liverpool could blood a few youngsters then Fulham at home would be the one.

The Cottagers have been coming to Anfield since 1934 and have still yet to return to the capital with a win.

After thrashing Besiktas 8-0 in a record Champions League victory on Tuesday, Liverpool will be hoping that they still have a few goals left to put past Lawrie Sanchez’s side this evening.

But with 5-1 and 4-0 successes against Fulham over the past couple of seasons, the omens are good.

Liverpool will also be looking to improve their home record in the Premier League with only one victory at Anfield to date this season and if they can keep on winning, Benitez believes he will be able to introduce more of his young players into the action.

He said: “The squad is good but we have got some young players and they need to settle down here and they need time but they have quality and potential.

“If you start winning games in a row and have confidence the young players will progress.

“If you don’t always have good results, they will need more time because under pressure it will be more difficult for them.

“If you analyse the squad it is good and if we keep winning games now then they will progress. We have Babel, Leto, Lucas and Torres is only 23.”

Benitez will have to leave out at least two players from the squad chosen against the Turks on Tuesday and the Spaniard has long been an advocate of having seven substitutes on the bench during Premier League matches to achieve parity with European games.

He said: “I think having 18 players in the matchday squad could be important.

“If you want to build a squad for the future and give experience to young players then I think that could be a solution.

“When you play two games a week and you’re playing for winning trophies you cannot say I will play with this or that young player if they’re not ready.

“You must give time to young players but you must use them because if you don’t then they don’t have experience.

“It’s not easy but I think that it’s the same situation for most managers.”

Benitez added: “You’ve got to find the balance (with the young players). The other day at 5-0 we could use Lucas and Babel and give them time but if you need to win in the first minute then maybe you need to use Harry Kewell because he has more experience but if you can manage it depends on the game, I think you can give the players the experience they need.

“If we start winning games we know that we have players with talent and they will be there but if you are not winning games and are under pressure then some players are too young and it’s more difficult for them.

“The key is to have some good games and it will be easier for them.”

Much has been made over which of Benitez’s four strikers will be used in today’s game.

Dirk Kuyt continues to work hard but has not been able to find goals from open play, Peter Crouch has been often overlooked but responded with two goals on Tuesday and record signing Fernando Torres is now back to fitness.

But despite his other three strikers costing a combined £34million, Benitez continues to sing the praises of the man he acquired on a free transfer this summer, Andriy Voronin.