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Kenny Dalglish says Liverpool are “reaping the rewards” of Rafa Benitez’s Anfield legacy.

The Kop legend believes the Spaniard, who returns with Newcastle United on Saturday, deserves great credit for the conveyor belt of talent which is emerging from the club’s Kirkby Academy.

Boss Jurgen Klopp has handed debuts to six Academy youngsters so far this season and many of them were recruited and coached by Benitez and his staff.

“Rafa will be welcomed back with open arms and rightly so,” Dalglish said.

“The Liverpool supporters have a reputation for paying tribute to anyone who has made a positive contribution to the club and I’ve no doubt it will be no different on this occasion.

“It isn’t just about the trophies that Rafa won as Liverpool manager, although they are testament enough to the service he provided to the club, it is also about his legacy and we’re still reaping the rewards of that today.

“I was fortunate enough that Rafa invited me to help out at the Academy in whatever way I could and I will always be eternally grateful for that. The benefits of the changes he put in place at that time are still being seen, you only have to look at some of the players in the first team squad to recognise that.

“Sheyi Ojo, Jordon Ibe and Jerome Sinclair were both brought in at that time while others including Jon Flanagan, Connor Randall, Ryan Kent, Cameron Brannagan, Ryan Kent and Jordan Rossiter had the benefit of working with the staff that Rafa put in place.

“All of those players have played for Liverpool’s first team this season having been given opportunities by Jurgen Klopp and I am sure that Jurgen will appreciate the contribution that Rafa made in that respect.

“The staff that Rafa brought into the Academy, especially Frank McParland, Rodolfo Borrell and Pep Segura, all made a positive difference and the work that they put in is bearing fruit and I’m sure it will continue to do so.

"So Rafa can rightly be proud of his contribution to Liverpool and I’ve no doubt he will be given the kind of welcome he deserves.”