Liverpool Might Gain More Than Just Europe Qualification Before Season's End

When Kenny Dalglish took over in January, Liverpool was fighting for survival with the so-called minnows of the Premier League. 

Since then, he has taken a team that was in shambles to one which is in the race for European place qualification. 

With the Spurs faltering over the past three months, it might not be too ambitious for Liverpool to think that it can just pip the Spurs to the post. 

What makes the feat achieved by Kenny even more incredible is that he achieved it without some of his biggest stars. 

Now many people would say that other teams also face injury problems—but the difference here is that the other top teams have depth on their squads, something that Liverpool clearly lacks. 

The lack of depth can be judged from the fact that the injuries has forced the team to play some of their academy players, some of whom are just 18 years of age. 

However, that may be the blessing in disguise that Liverpool might require to become a contender in the league again.

Traditionally, Liverpool had been known for producing players from its academy, who would graduate to play for the first team. 

Sadly, that was not the case over the past 10 years—with only Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen as the only notable academy graduates to play for Liverpool.

This year, injuries, coupled with the lack of depth in the Liverpool squad, forced the Liverpool management to play the youngsters. 

Earlier in the season, Martin Kelly has already impressed everyone with his performances and has replaced the more experienced Glen Johnson as the first-choice right-back for Liverpool.

Liverpool though has been extremely unlucky with injuries over the past two months—Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Martin Kelly, Fabio Aurelio, Daniel Agger. These are not the kind players any team wants on the doctor's table for long.

But such a huge injury list has given opportunity to a lot of youngsters to shine—Jay Spearing, John Flanagan and Jack Robinson being among them. 

It is often said that one needs to grab whatever opportunity that one gets, and these three players have done just that. 

Spearing, in the absence of Gerrard has seen more playing time and arguably has been the best player for the team in the last two matches against Manchester City and Arsenal.

He has formed a good partnership with the ever improving Lucas and has shown both the aggressive side of his game in the match against Manchester City and the defensive side in the match against Arsenal.

Both John Flanagan and Jack Robinson have been impressing everyone in their performances for the reserves.

However, even they would have dreamed of playing for the first team against Arsenal a couple of weeks ago. 

Flanagan got his opportunity due to the injuries to Kelly and Johnson and got the first two starts to his career against Manchester City and Arsenal.

And the mature and impressive performances Flanagan has given in the last two matches has shown the strides made by the Liverpool academy over the last two years under Rodolfo Borrell.

Jack Robinson, who last year had become the youngest ever player to represent Liverpool in his substitute appearance against Hull, was originally not scheduled to play in the match against Arsenal.

However, another injury to Aurelio, meant that Liverpool would be playing two rookie full backs.

The England international Theo Walcott was expected to run all over Robinson, but he showed why he had become the youngest player to represent Liverpool with an impressive performance.

Walcott almost never managed to get past the youngster who closed him down very well and was instrumental in Arsenal not getting in as many crosses from the pacy winger as they had expected.

Jonjo Shelvey, who is returning from injury, is also expected to get considerable playing time, as he was getting under Kenny Dalglish before he got injured. 

So, it looks like a good time to be a youngster for Liverpool. 

Whether or not Liverpool manage to get that final European spot still remains to be seen, but the experience that the youngsters have gained would definitely prove to be invaluable for the future.

With the experienced pros not expected to return any time soon, one would expect the young guns to get an extended run in the first team and if they are able to maintain the level of performance they have shown, it may be worth much more to Liverpool than the European spot.