Liverpool’s move to the new AXA Training Centre late last year was to help move the club forward for the future, and we are already seeing some of the benefits.
The Reds left their old home of Melwood in November to make the move to Kirkby, where both the first-team and the academy players are now based.
One of the main reasons behind the move was to house multiple age groups in the same facility, enabling the transition from the youth teams to the senior squad to become much easier for all concerned.
Over the weekend Liverpool played an intra-squad friendly match made up of players from both the first-team and academy players.
Kaide Gordon, Mateusz Musialowski, Melkamu Frauendorf and James Balagizi were just a handful of the youngster given a chance to impress Jurgen Klopp and his staff.
Under-23s boss Barry Lewtas says he and everyone connected with the club are fortunate to java such a strong link between the first-team and youth sides, and believes that bond can lay down the foundations for years to come.
“We’re unbelievably fortunate here in terms of the strong link we have between the first team and the Academy, so the manager and his staff are always watching,” Lewtas told Liverpoolfc.com.
“They watch games in the flesh if they can and if not they watch the games back on video and obviously there is a lot of communication between the staff on both sides of the building. So it’s a fantastic opportunity for the boys to see it but eyes are always on them and they never quite know when the next opportunity will come.
“And obviously there has been a few of them who have actually played for the first team this season as well. So it’s good for them to see it and feel it, but they’re always being watched.
“I haven’t spoken to the coaches for feedback as such but I’ve watched the full game back on video.
“I saw that Pep [Lijnders] spoke to the website afterwards and the chat I had before the game with Vitor was very similar to Pep’s words, on how positive the week has been and what an opportunity it’s been for the players and staff involved.
“It’s really good that we were able to get this done in this particular window, it’s a really good opportunity for staff and players.
“It’s international week so I will catch up with the lads who played over the course of the week.”
