Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has put his young players on notice.

The likes of Nathan Eccleston, Daniel Ayala, Martin Kelly and Jay Spearing have all turned out for the first-team this season - and the gaffer admits he'd have no qualms about dipping into the second string pool again in future.

"The Reserves are a very good team," he said. "We changed the staff and some players and we knew the first year could be difficult, but they are doing very well," he told liverpoolfc.tv.

"They are playing well, are well organised and know what they are doing.

"It means we can bring in some players and you have seen they can perform. The likes of Eccleston, Darby, Ayala and Pacheco - we know we can use these players and they will know what to do."