Liverpool reality shown by two players as coach makes 'ruthless' demand

Liverpool reality shown by two players as coach makes 'ruthless' demand

New Liverpool under-21s head coach Rob Page believes the pathway remains to the first team for Academy players ahead of new season

Liverpool youngsters Trey Nyoni (left) and Rio Ngumoha (Image: Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)

Academy football is very much its own beast. When it comes to raw results, few could argue Liverpool underachieved at youth level last season as the natural cycle for some - including under-21 coach Barry Lewtas and U18s counterpart Marc Bridge-Wilkinson - came to an end.

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The aim of any Academy, though, is to prepare and provide players capable of challenging for the first team. And the success of teenage duo Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni during pre-season under Arne Slot has underlined that, in terms of the overwhelmingly key metric, the Reds remain on the right track.

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The overhaul behind the scenes at Kirkby has seen former Wales international boss Rob Page take over the U21s with Manchester United's Simon Wiles in line to assume the role of U18s coach.

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And Page believes that Slot, like predecessor Jurgen Klopp, is willing to give youngsters an opportunity should act as motivation for his new charges.

"Absolutely, it's important," he says. "It's not the be all and end all but they need to have the hunger and desire inside to be a professional footballer and, first and foremost, want to play for Liverpool Football Club.

"If it's not for whatever reason and they think they've got players in front of them who are doing really well and the opportunity is going to be limited, then they have to look elsewhere and get games.

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"But there is definitely a pathway here. That has been proven over the years with the development of some unbelievable young players, and I'm just proud to be a part of that now."

Page has first-hand experience of the influence of Liverpool's Academy on young players, having worked with graduates Harry Wilson, Neco Williams and Danny Ward with the Wales national team.

"They are all good characters as well, really good characters, so that says a lot about the Academy," says Page. "When you are involved in an Academy, it's not just about the on-pitch things - it's how you conduct yourselves off it as well.

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"So Liverpool are obviously doing it right to develop three players like that. Can we get them through to our first team? Absolutely.

"But if not, we need to play a part in helping them get a career in the Premier League or another division elsewhere. Harry and Neco are two great examples of that."

Liverpool U21s have had three friendlies so far this summer, with a 8-0 thumping of Celtic U21s followed by a 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic's senior side. They also won 3-1 against RC Lens in France on Tuesday.

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While the Premier League 2 fixtures have not yet been released, the Reds U21s already know who they will be facing in the EFL Trophy having been drawn in the same group as Burton Albion, Chesterfield and Crewe Alexandra.

And Page acknowledges the importance of the competition despite Liverpool having only once progressed beyond the group stage.

"It's really important," he says to liverpoolfc.com. "I've asked the players to be ruthless, I've asked them to be energetic. We've got a good senior group around us which will lead the way for the younger group.

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"But those cup games are important because if you can tick all the boxes, we know they've got the ability, we know they can play and they are tactically aware, but can you cope with the physicality of EFL football? They proved against Wigan that they can."

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