Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe has leapt to the defence of Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas, following the duo’s difficult start to life at the club.

The Spanish pair were signed for a combined £14m from Sevilla and Celta Vigo during the last window, but have only managed a combined five Premier League starts.

There are already rumours circulating that Aspas may be sold this month, while Alberto has also been linked with a loan move to gain more experience.

However Pascoe says that both players are adjusting to life and football in England, and that they will soon start to show why the Merseysiders spent heavily for them:

"Luis has found the pace of the Premier League hard but he and Iago are working well in training and the more they get used to the Premier League the better they get.” He is quoted by the Daily Star.

"Alberto can play in a couple of positions. He can play wide or up front as a nine or as a 10 and if you asked him he would say a 10.

"We can tweak things if we have to and push him up there but we're not going to put him at nine as we have Luis (Suarez) up there.

"Iago started the season well and obviously had his (thigh) injury. He has been working hard; he has to wait his turn like all the strikers do.

"He did well the other day (against Hull) and with the way he is training he is getting better.

"It is like any player, if they are British or foreign, you hope they gel together quickly but sometimes you need time to adapt to the Premier League.

"They know themselves sometimes they have to be patient.“

Aspas and Alberto are expected to play some part in Liverpool’s FA Cup clash with Oldham this afternoon, with Brendan Rodgers likely to make numerous changes to his squad after a demanding festive period.

[cat_link cat="liverpool" type="grid"]