Benitez: We must invest in youth

RAFAEL BENITEZ has told Liverpool they must be prepared to spend big on young players to have any chance of catching up with Arsene Wenger’s 10-year squad-building programme.

The Anfield chief has reacted with his stark warning in the wake of seeing his side humiliated 6-3 in the Carling Cup quarter-finals by Wenger’s young brigade.

Nine of Wenger’s 16-man squad at Anfield were teenagers, and the average age of the outfield players was 20 years 11 months.