Brendan Rodgers has thrown down the gauntlet to the youngsters currently on pre-season tour with Liverpool's senior squad, who touched down in Adelaide on Saturday.

The Northern Irishman included Jordan Rossiter, Ryan Kent, Joe Maguire, Daniel Cleary, Pedro Chirivella, Harry Wilson, Sheyi Ojo, Ryan Fulton and Joao Carlos Teixeira in the 30-man squad currently out in Australia and has already shown a willingness to give them game time. 

Rossiter and Teixeira have been the most impressive of the group so far, with Kent also enjoying a brief cameo against Brisbane Roar recently - but Rodgers has challenged all the Reds' Academy prospects to prove they are worthy of a first-team place this season.

Asked to explain why he included so many rookies in the squad, Rodgers said: "I always like to bring the young players on these tours and training camps.

"It is great for their development and also, I get to take a good look at them.

"There is always the opportunity there for them to stake a claim for the squad.

"If they show up then they will get an opportunity. That has been shown by the way young players have been promoted in the past."

Rodgers pleased with pre-season tour on and off the pitch

Liverpool's win over Brisbane made it two wins out of two, with the Reds having produced some good performances early on in their pre-season programme. 

The displays have done plenty to impress Rodgers, who believes the tour is beneficial on several fronts. 

He added: "We are only 12 days into it [the club's pre-season], but the quality of the work in the training and in the games has been exceptional.

"There are two aspects to the tour. From a footballing perspective, the players are working very hard. The two games so far have been good tests for us, especially the one in Brisbane. I am sure the game against Adelaide [United] will be exactly the same.

"Equally important on this trip is visiting our supporters and obviously the commercial side of the club. We were overwhelmed by the support we got here in Australia two years ago.

"From every aspect, from the fitness of the players to the commercial and the business side - it is very important."