da marjack bet： Whilst Brendan Rodgers still searches for his first Premier League victory as Liverpool mananger, the Europa League could provide a welcome distraction.
da cassino： It is certainly not ideal for Rodgers and his men to travel to Switzerland on Thursday, aware Manchester United will be arriving at Anfield Sunday lunchtime.
The fans are also somewhat disillusioned with the competition, still desperate for a return to the European Cup after a three year absence, a competition the Anfield club has won five times.
But Rodgers must use this seasons Europa League campaign to utilise some of the exciting young talent he has at his disposal.
With the shortage of strikers there for all to see, Thursday’s game represents a glorious opportunity for teenage strikers Samed Yesil and Adam Morgan to stake a claim for regular first team football before the transfer window reopens.
Yesil, a £1million summer signing from Bayern Leverkusen will be fast tracked into the side as Rodgers attempts to rest Luis Suarez for Sundays fixture, with the Uruguayan being one of just two senior strikers at Anfield, and the teams main source of goals.
The German was a target for many top European clubs having scored 57 times in 71 appearances for the Leverkusen youth teams.
Rodgers said before it could be up to two years before he appears in the senior side, but the deadline day fiasco which saw Liverpool fail to replace Andy Carroll, has seen this idea scrapped.
Whilst Morgan has already featured in the Europa League this season, starting in the 1-1 draw with Hearts at Anfield last month.
The Liverpool academy is currently thriving with exciting young talent, and it would be a shame for Rodgers not to explore this further.
There is no doubting where this seasons priorities lie, and that is a vast improvement in the league and hopes for at least challenging for a top four spot.
This means the Europa League will be taking a back seat, and should be seen as an opportunity to give Liverpool’s stars of the future some vital European experience.
The likes of Raheem Sterling and Jonjo Shelvey have made the step up into the first team this season with impressive results, arguably being Liverpool’s two most consistent performers thus far.
When Rodgers took over, he spoke of the ‘weight’ of the Liverpool shirt, and how he was hoping to reduce the massive pressure that is put on his players, which is all part and parcel of playing for Britain’s most successful club.
One way Rodgers could look to do this is to add more fearless, hungry young players to his side. Liverpool currently boast two creative midfielders in their academy, Spaniard Suso and Portugese Teixeira, both of whom big things are expected of in the future.
It would be interesting to see these two given a chance to show what they can do, and whether their fearlessness could lead to that bit of creativity Liverpool have been missing.
Whereas Spanish forward Daniel Pacheco is still on the Anfield books, a player many feel has potential but has yet to be given a fair crack of the whip. A run in the Europa League could be the perfect chance to show what he can do.
Local lad Conor Coady is another the fans would like to have a look at. Coady first came to the attention when he captained England U17 to their first ever European Championship victory in 2010, but has yet to make a senior appearance for the side.
Whilst full backs Jon Flanagan and Jack Robinson should be given some game time, after they impressed during a short run in the first team under Kenny Dalglish. With Glen Johnson, Martin Kelly and Jose Enrique ahead of them in the full back positions, regular Premier League football is currently looking unlikely for the pair.
Liverpool would probably rather not be spending their Thursday evenings on Channel 5, but if Rodgers utilises his young players properly, it will have a big baring on whether they have to do so again in the future.
Playing more young players will give the senior stars such as Suarez and Gerrard some much needed rest for the testing Premier League campaign that lies ahead, and also provides the opportunity to unearth some new talent.
Despite not being ideal, this seasons Europa League campaign could prove to be a blessing in disguise for Liverpool.