Rafa Benitez delighted with Liverpool's reserve team stars

May 9 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Rafa Benitez

IT may not have been quite the same as the European and FA Cups that have been lifted during Rafael Benitez’s tenure.

But the sight of Liverpool’s young second-string parading the reserves’ national league title shield at Anfield gives reason to be encouraged about the club’s future.

A resounding 3-0 triumph over Aston Villa on Wednesday night showcased what Benitez will hope is a glimpse of what the first-team may offer in years to come.

And it continued the success lower down the ranks at Anfield, with the FA Youth Cup having been lifted in both 2006 and 2007.

“Yes, it was a fantastic achievement for them, a very good season and to win it in style was important,” says Benitez.

“We could see good goals and quality so I always say the same thing. The scouting department has done a good job and the staff are doing a good job. These young players with quality are progressing and will be the future of the club.”

The most prominent performer on Wednesday was Hungarian forward Krisztian Nemeth, who demonstrated the fine touch and clinical finishing that have so caught the eye for the reserves this season with the opening goal and an assist for strike partner Jordy Brouwer.

Nemeth, 19, is one of three players on duty expected to be promoted to regularly train with the first-team squad next season, joining Emiliano Insua and Damien Plessis, who have already broken through to the senior side.

“Nemeth has not played with the first team yet but he is a player who has scored a lot of goals,” adds Benitez. “He is very clever and you can see his movement. We are watching these and the rest.

“I think the idea will be for some of the reserve team to train with the first team and to be ready. Clearly some of them will be involved in more games (than this year).”

For Insua, it was a second appearance at Anfield in four days after making his senior home debut in the 1-0 win against Manchester City

And the Argentine left-back says: “It was really good to be part of a young team which won something at Anfield because we all know what a special place this is.

“I was lucky enough to play there for the first team against Manchester City and that has made me hungry for more. The challenge for me now is to become a regular in the first team squad.”

Lucas Leiva, the only player with any continued first-team experience, netted the third after having volunteered to play after both Ray Putterill and Jay Spearing were ruled out through injury.

Lucas aside, of the 13 other players to make it on to the pitch on Wednesday, 10 had been bought in from abroad by Benitez specifically for the youth and reserve teams.

The three others – Ryan Flynn, Craig Lindfield and skipper Stephen Darby – had been promoted from the successful Youth Cup-winning team.

And reserve team manager Gary Ablett says: “It was nice to win because it shows how far we have come since the beginning of pre-season when you wouldn’t believe how bad we were.

“Full credit to the lads for what they have achieved because they have come on leaps and bounds in the time we’ve had with them and hopefully now we can step a few more up from here and get them into Rafa’s plans.

“We all know how difficult that will be but I think a few of them have shown their potential to do that.”