Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits the first-team squad depth is making the difference this season.
The Reds followed up Sunday's Carabao Cup final win by beating Norwich City on Wednesday to advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Asked about the importance of his fringe players stepping up this season, Klopp replied: "That's the reason we are in the situation we are in, that we have this kind of mentality and character in the squad.
"A good example is Curtis Jones, who played an exceptional game tonight; Joe Gomez, we don't have to discuss his quality and he showed it again tonight. That's exactly what we need to be successful in the long term.
"Nobody knows what will happen this year, but in the long term we need this kind of quality. The boys have to be ready. They don't fight each other for a position but they have to fight to be their best version and then they have a good chance to be in the line-up for the weekend.
"But no guarantee. That means you have to do it again and again and again until you get that opportunity and then you have to show up. That's what the boys did."
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