Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has praised the contributions made by some of the club’s younger players so far this season.

Brendan Rodgers has complained about the relatively thin nature of his squad this term, but Carragher feels in the aftermath of the club’s 1-1 draw away at Chelsea that the teenagers in the side deserve credit for their performances.

“They have done really well all season,” Carragher told reporters.

“To go away from home to a place like Stamford Bridge, probably the toughest place we’ve been to this season, and come away with a positive result bodes well for the future.

“The young lads who were out there – Andre [Wisdom], Raheem [Sterling] and Suso – all played their part.

“I thought Suso did really well when he came on, he did the same when he came on against Anzhi [Makhachkala, in the Europa League last Thursday] as well.

“They were not just playing against one of the top teams in the country, but one of the top teams in Europe.”

Liverpool have struggled for consistent league form this campaign under Rodgers, but Carragher believes the way that the new boss has integrated the talented young crop into the squad warrants praise.

He added: “It’s a great learning curve for them. They are doing really well for us and that’s why the manager keeps picking them.

“You have to think of the benefits they will get from experiences like that in the future.

“Credit to them and also credit to the manager for putting them in there. He’s been very brave the way he has given the young players a chance.”