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Brendan Rodgers admits £6m man Luis Alberto has had a “difficult” debut campaign at Liverpool FC.

But the Reds boss insists the youngster was signed with the long-term in mind, and has backed the Spaniard to play a part at Anfield in the future.

Alberto, signed from Sevilla last summer, has made a total of 12 appearances this season, but is yet to start a Premier League game.

His last outing was an 11-minute cameo as a substitute in the 4-0 win over Everton back in January.

Since then, he has twice been an unused sub, but has not featured in any of the Reds’ last eight matchday squads.

Rodgers said: “It’s probably been a difficult season for Luis because he hasn’t had many opportunities to make an impact.

“But he needs to keep working. He’s still a very young player and he does have quality. It shows you the level of where we are at.

“It was a signing for the long term, that was the idea. He’s a young player who has come in and sampled life at a big club and made a contribution.

“He will stay with the group for the rest of the season and then we will review his development come the summer.”

Alberto has still been involved with the first-team squad on matchdays, as part of his development. But Rodgers admitted the emergence of players such as Joao Carlos Teixeira, who made his league debut for the Reds in February, had increased competition for places, even on the bench.

He said: “I look at training and assess it every day. Luis is working hard but we’ve had young players coming in and making an impact like Joao, who has been exceptional. I’m always looking at the dynamic of the squad and it changes from week to week depending on the game.”

Alberto is not the only Spaniard to struggle to make an impact at Anfield this season. Iago Aspas cost £7.7m from Celta Vigo last July, but the 26-year-old has not started a league game since New Year’s Day.

“I really feel for Iago,” added Rodgers. “It’s been so difficult for him. He has a world-class striker in Luis Suarez for competition and another who has come in and done exceptionally well in Daniel Sturridge. Daniel is potentially world class and I’m sure we will see that over the coming seasons.

“But that has never stopped Iago working well every day in training. He has never given up the fight. He may have only come on for small periods in games but he has made a contribution

“I’ve got the utmost respect for Iago and his professionalism. He keeps working, he has a great character and mentality.

“We will see where we’re at with him come the summer.”

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