Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge believes the Reds’ qualification for the Europa League next season will benefit the club’s young players
Liverpool is on course to finish outside the top four, while Manchester United has two games left to pick up three points and secure third place.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have fallen short of their usual high standards, both domestically and in Europe, and the Merseyside club is set to finish the season without a trophy.
A lack of reinforcements in the team’s midfield, combined with an injury-plagued season for the likes of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, has allowed a few young players to break into the first team.
Harvey Elliott, 20, has appeared 45 times for Liverpool this season, while Curtis Jones has also made 22 appearances in all competitions.
Aldridge emphasized that, while Liverpool is more accustomed to Champions League football than any other club, the Europa League competition has its advantages, not least for young players.
“On the other hand, some of the lesser games in the earlier rounds will provide important game time for the younger players,” Aldridge wrote in his Liverpool Echo column.
“Especially if we add more players in the summer.”
“I’m sure Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Caoimhin Kelleher, Fabio Carvalho, Stefan Bajcetic, and Ben Doak would love to play in those European games.”
“I’m not going to hide the fact that we’re more accustomed to the Champions League than any other club.”
“We’ve won it six times, more than any other English team.”
“By far the most valuable Premier League team in Europe.”
“But if that’s where we end up, we’ve got to go for the Europa League.”
With Liverpool in the Europa League, the young players are likely to get first-team minutes in the early stages of the competition.
Liverpool last competed in the Europa League in 2016, reaching the final, where they were defeated by Sevilla 3-1.
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