Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has called on the Reds’ youngsters to use the pre-season tour as a chance to force their way into his plans for the upcoming campaign.
The squad arrived in South Australia on Saturday and will train at Coopers Stadium on Sunday before their game against Adelaide United the following day.
The likes of Jordan Rossiter, Ryan Kent and Joe Maguire all enjoyed run outs against Brisbane Roar on Friday, and Dan Cleary, Pedro Chirivella and Sheyi Ojo are also Down Under with the first-team squad.
Northern Irishman Rodgers says those players can show what they are capable of whilst on the tour.
“I always like to bring young players on these tours and training camps,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
“It’s great for their development and I get to take a good look at them.
“There’s always the opportunity there for them to stake a claim for the squad.
“If they show up then they will get an opportunity. That’s been shown by the way young players have been promoted in the past.”
The Ulsterman is encouraged by the progress the team have made this summer thus far.
“We’re only 12 days into pre-season but the quality of the work in the training and in the games has been exceptional,” he said.
“There are two aspects to the tour. From a football perspective, the players are working very hard and the two games so far have been good tests for us, especially the one in Brisbane. I’m sure the game against Adelaide will be exactly the same.
“Equally important on this trip is visiting our supporters and the commercial side of the club. We were overwhelmed by the support we got in Australia two years ago.
“From every aspect, from the fitness of the players to the commercial and the business side it’s very important.”
Chief executive Ian Ayre, having played a key role in securing some of the Reds’ summer signings, is also in Australia, and added: “We’re very pleased to be here. It’s the third stop on our 2015 pre-season tour and it’s fantastic to be back in Australia and to pay our first visit to Adelaide.”
New Reds skipper Jordan Henderson, who has featured in both pre-season games so far, said: “We did our recovery this morning before we got on the plane and now we’re looking forward to the game on Monday.
“We did our homework on Brisbane Roar and now we’ll start focusing on Adelaide United.”
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