Teen ready for Saints challenge
Jordon Ibe has welcomed Liverpool's decision to play all of their NextGen Series home games at St Helens' Langtree Park this season.
The first game at the newly-built stadium will be on November 13 when Rodolfo Borrell's side take on Norwegian outfit Rosenborg, and the Academy winger is hoping supporters will help the young side in their quest to conquer Europe.
Last season, Borrell's charges finished third in the inaugural campaign of the NextGen Series - and Ibe is optimistic the crop of 2012-13 can do just as well.
"This is a great stadium and we are looking forward to playing our NextGen Series home games at Langtree Park," said Ibe.
"I was on the bench for the Ajax game last season and I remember there being a great atmosphere at Langtree Park.
"Hopefully they can come and support us again this season as we want to do well in the NextGen Series.
"I'm really excited as this is my first season playing in the NextGen Series and I'm looking forward to it.
"I played in the play-off game last season when we beat Marseille and that was a good experience playing against a European team.
"It is different playing against teams like that as they play a different style of football and it's great to test yourself."
Ibe featured in the starting XI when the young Reds started their campaign with a narrow 3-2 defeat to reigning Champions Inter Milan in Italy.
He added: "Playing against Inter Milan was a great experience. We had a lot of 16-year-olds in the team and I thought we played quite well against them even though we lost 3-2.
"Playing in the NextGen Series can only help our development. When you play against the likes of Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Rosenborg it can only help you, and we are looking forward to playing against teams of this calibre at St Helens."
Primarily a Rugby League ground, Langtree Park is the home of St Helens and has a capacity of 18,000.
Opened in 2011, the stadium has two terraced stands and two seated and played host to its first rugby match as recently as January this year.
The Reds starlets will travel there to face Rosenborg on November 13 at 7pm and then Borussia Dortmund on November 28 at 6pm.
The date for their clash against Inter Milan is yet to be confirmed; however, the tie will also take place at Langtree at 7pm.
The U21s league clash against Chelsea on Sunday, November 18 will also be staged at Langtree Park, with a 2pm kick-off.