Liverpool begin their UEFA Youth League campaign at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday afternoon
Jayden Danns of Liverpool
Jayden Danns of Liverpool(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
It's not just Arne Slot's side who begin another European journey for Liverpool this week. For the Academy set-up, Wednesday marks the start of another crack at the UEFA Youth League.
The Reds have never before gone beyond the quarter-final stage of the competition and were last season beaten in the round of 32 when downed on penalties in Stuttgart.
Their latest tilt marks the start of a fresh era for the under-19s who, having previously been helmed by Barry Lewtas and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, will now see U21s boss Rob Page in charge assisted by fellow summer arrival Simon Wiles, who has taken over the U18s side.
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As with last season, the first stage of the competition echoes that of the Champions League, although the U19s will play only the first six matches. The top 22 in the table then advance to the knockout stages along with 10 teams who win through the 52-team Domestic Champions path.
It means Liverpool open against Atletico Madrid at the Academy in Kirkby this afternoon (kick-off 3pm), with further home games against Real Madrid and PSV Eindhoven along with away matches at Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt and Inter Milan.
"It’s a great competition to be involved in and great for the younger lads to come up against some of the best young footballers in Europe, and some of the best clubs in Europe," said Page.
"From a learning point of view it is excellent for them to be involved in it. You want them to experience what players are like in Turkey against Galatasaray and in Milan and the top clubs in those countries.
"When you play against European clubs you’ve got to play the game and be wise at the same time. That will be a part of the game that maybe we take the biggest learnings from."
While the Youth League is an U19s tournament, teams are allowed to register five overage players provided they were born after January 1 2006.
And leading that list is striker Jayden Danns, who featured in the Champions League last season under Arne Slot. Defenders Wellity Lucky and Lucas Pitt along with forwards Kieran Morrison and Trent Kone-Doherty complete the quintet.
The 19-year-old Danns was among those training with the first-team squad on Tuesday along with Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni. However, the latter duo, while eligible, are unlikely to feature in the Youth League.
Danns, who scored for England U20s during the international break, is continuing to build up fitness after a back injury brought a premature end to his previous campaign, and managed an assist and goal for the U21s on Saturday when playing the first half-hour of a 4-1 friendly win over Bolton Wanderers at Kirkby. Kaide Gordon scored twice while Kareem Ahmed also found the net.
"I went to watch Dannsy play for England against Italy and he scored, he got another hour under his belt and I thought he was excellent on the night," said Page.
"Dannsy has got a bright future if he continues to develop as we think he will. I spoke with the England coach and if we work together then we will give Dannsy the best opportunity to develop going forward, which I’m sure he will."
Meanwhile, the U18s were beaten 4-3 at home by Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon in the U18 Premier League North.
Joe Bradshaw continued his excellent start to the campaign with another goal, bringing Liverpool back into the game after Finn Inglethorpe's opener had been wiped out by visiting strikes from Matthew Taylor, Alfie Seldon and Kacey Wooster.
Scofield Lonmeni then equalised for the Reds, only for Wooster to net his second and seal a win for the Magpies two minutes from time.
LIVERPOOL U18s: Hall; Esdaille, Cisse, Clarke, Ayman; Upton, Murray-Holme; Bradshaw, Sonni-Lambie, Yeguo (Lee Forrester 63); Inglethorpe (Lonmeni 70). Subs: Bernard, Owen, Hickman. BOOKING: Clarke.