Reds Set For U19 Champions League

Liverpool have revealed plans to participate in a prestigious U19 Champions League next season.

The competition would see the Reds take on some of the finest young talent in Europe and Academy director Frank McParland believes it would be of huge benefit to the development of our stars of the future.

McParland told Liverpoolfc.tv: "On August 17 we start the U19 Champions League.

"We will play the first game of it against Sporting Lisbon. Hopefully that will be played at Anfield. We'll have to see what the first-team fixture list throws up first of all, but that is the plan.

"I don't have a definitive list of the teams involved but I know Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Lyon are looking to play in it.

"It's all about our reserves going to a new level next season. We are trying to pit them against top, top opposition.

"Hopefully we will play most of our games with the reserves at the Academy. We would hope to play the Champions League matches at Anfield but we will have to see about that.

"We'll still be in the domestic league too but this will offer them the chance to play in front of big crowds and against a higher quality of opposition.