There's never a bad time for Liverpool youngsters to make an impression.
But with the possibility of a first-team outing in the FA Cup fourth round replay against Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday, this weekend was the ideal opportunity to grasp the mettle.
So it proved for a much-changed Liverpool under-23s side, who registered an impressive 3-0 win over Arsenal in their Premier League 2 clash at the Academy in Kirkby on Saturday.
While many of the expected starters against Shrewsbury were rested - U23s boss Neil Critchley will take charge of a Liverpool team for the tie with Jurgen Klopp and his senior players on their winter break - there were welcome minutes for other potential inclusions.
Chief among those was centre-back Morgan Boyes, who celebrated signing a contract extension by scoring the opener against the Gunners on 27 minutes when heading in a free-kick from Luis Longstaff, whose dead-ball delivery was a danger all afternoon.
Critchley made 10 changes from the side that drew 2-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier International Cup in midweek, Caoimhin Kelleher, slated to start against Shrewsbury, the only player to retain his place.
And Dal Varesanovic, making his first start for the U23s, benefited when converting a James Norris cross on the stroke of half-time.
Jack Bearne completed an impressive win by curling home a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner, the Reds coping best with the difficult windy conditions and employing a strong pressing game.
Liverpool U23s are next in action on Sunday, February 9 when they entertain Sunderland in the Premier League Cup.
LIVERPOOL U23s: Kelleher; Gallacher, Savage, Boyes, Norris; Clayton, Dixon-Bonner, Varesanovic (O'Rourke 61); Longstaff, Bearne, Hill. Subs: Quansah, Winterbottom, Brookwell.
