Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool would be ‘lost’ this season without their academy prospects.
Klopp has utilised five homegrown players to plug the gap left by injuries to the Premier League champions’ squad in the campaign’s opening months.
Caoimhin Kelleher became the latest talent to make a step up in the Reds’ senior ranks after first-choice goalkeeper Alisson was sidelined last week.
The 22-year-old kept successive clean sheets and is expected to start a third game in Wednesday’s Champions League dead rubber against Midtjylland.
Liverpool have progressed into the knock-out stage as Group D winners and are joint top of the Premier League, behind Tottenham on goal difference.
But Klopp insists his side’s continued momentum would not have been possible without harnessing their academy players during an injury-hit spell.
He said: “We lost top-class players to injuries and, of course, one door closes and another opens up, but you still need the right players to use the chance.
“All the boys did it. What Rhys Williams did in the Champions League so far is exceptional.
“What Nat [Phillips] did when he played in the Premier League was absolutely exceptional.
“Neco [Williams] played two really good games in a row, especially the last one. Curtis [Jones] plays like he’s played with us for 10 years.
“Caoimhin was always a talent and now he has the chance to show that on the big stage.
“Without them we would have been lost. Thank god it worked out. The biggest part is that they are really ready for this.
“They are the biggest reason for it. [Coaches] Vitor Matos and Pepijn Lijnders were really close to that group before they joined up so they were really prepared.
“That is why we would use them in the way we have.”
More of Liverpool’s young guns could feature against Midtjylland with Billy Koumetio, Leighton Clarkson and Leyton Stewart all registered in the squad.
Koumetio will become the club’s youngest-ever Champions League debutant at 18 years and 25 days if selected to take on the Danish champions.
It is the first time we don’t have to get a result in the last match of the group stage and we have to consider the general situation,” added Klopp.
“But we are Liverpool and we want to win the game. Getting to 15 points is another reason and we will try everything.
“But we cannot completely forget that we have to play six games in the next 22 days. Some of my boys played six or seven games in the last 22 days already.”