'These kids are preparing for the future'
December 29, 2013 is a date that both Jordan Rossiter and Brad Smith will never forget.
The latter, a 19-year-old talent from the Reds' U21 team, was introduced for the final half-hour of Liverpool's Barclays Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Watching on from the substitutes' bench in West London was 16-year-old Rossiter, a tenacious midfielder who is rising rapidly through the age groups at the club's Academy.
Smith travelled to Manchester City last Thursday and was joined on the trip south yesterday by Rossiter as reinforcements for a senior squad heavily hampered by a series of injuries.
Brendan Rodgers is confident of a successful future for both players, who, alongside fellow aspiring youngster Jack Dunn, have trained regularly with the first team at Melwood in recent weeks.
The manager said on Monday: "They are only kids, especially young Jordan. He's a young player that only came into the football club full-time this season.
"He has been playing regularly in the U21 team and doing exceptionally well. He's a tough boy that has got a great mindset. That was as much preparation for him for the future, being around a big game and what it feels like.
"Hopefully over the course of the coming years, he can progress and develop - that game will be a reference for him in terms of where he wants to get to.
"Young Brad is a full-back that has been out for a period of time. What he has, and the reason for putting him on yesterday, is the capacity, physically, to cope at that level.
"In terms of his pace, he's very quick, he's strong and powerful. At that level, that's the type of profile of player that you need.
"For both of them, it has been a great opportunity. They have been up here training with me along with Jack Dunn, who is another talented young player. They are getting experience being in and around the squad."