Ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Youth League clash against Spartak Moscow on Wednesday, coach Steven Gerrard has admitted that he faced a selection headache in the group stage.

The Reds are already through to the knockout round of the competition courtesy of their 4-0 hammering of Sevilla on match day five.

Against the Spanish opponents, Gerrard named England U17 sensation Rhian Brewster in the starting line-up after his heroics at the 2017 World Cup, and Ibadan-born winger Bobby Adekanye dropped to the bench.

''We had to put Bobby Adekanye on the bench in the last game, and he didn't deserve to be on the bench. But you've got Rhian [Brewster] returning, who's just won a World Cup, who played well before he left, and they're the decisions you've got to make,'' Steven Gerrard told Liverpool's official website.

''Between us all, when we were discussing teams and stuff, we all had it slightly different.

''But that's what you've got to do as a manager and that's the reason why you'll either get praise or you'll get fired.''

Bobby Adekanye has notched three goals in his last three games for Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League.

Igho Kingsley