And as Liverpool approach their first warm-up game away to Swiss club St Gallen on July 15, it is clear Benitez will be running the rule over the club’s current crop of potential talent.
Spaniards Daniel Pacheco, Mikel San Jose and Daniel Ayala, Hungarian duo Krisztian Nemeth and Peter Gulacsi along with local defender Martin Kelly are training alongside Anfield’s senior players after the Reds returned to work at Melwood this week.
Benitez is urging the youngsters to make the most of their chance and stake a claim for first-team involvement next term.
It is a similar policy to last season when the likes of Jack Hobbs, David Ngog, Emiliano Insua, Stephen Darby, Damien Plessis and Jay Spearing were given opportunities in the early warm-up matches.
Benitez said: “We have already had conversations with the likes of Pacheco, Ayala and San Jose and we have told them that it depends on them.
“They are now training with the first-team squad and this is their chance to show what they can do ahead of the new season.”
