New-look Liverpool excites Benitez

RAFAEL BENITEZ will give his supporting cast the chance to shine today in Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly.

They travel across the Mersey to face neighbours Tranmere in a 15,000 sell-out match at Prenton Park.

Benitez cannot call on his Spanish contingent of Fernando Torres, Jose Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, who are all still on holiday after their Euro 2008 triumph.

And skipper Steven Gerrard has only just returned to training after being given an extended break following his summer matches with England.

However, Benitez is likely to give debuts to new signings Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena, who were unveiled at Anfield on Thursday.

“We will field the players we have been working with this week, their commitment has been fantastic,” he said.

Benitez is expected to also use Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel during the match, with the likelihood of a different eleven playing in each half.

He added: “Our aim is to bring through young players and that can save us money, money that we can eventually spend on big names.

“We have a fantastic group of young players, in the future they will save us money. At the moment we have to still buy big names and the only way to do that is to sell players.”

Liverpool will leave for their Swiss training camp on Sunday, and they will play games against Lucern on Wednesday and Wisla Krakow next Saturday.