U21s do battle...in the kitchen
A group of Liverpool U21 players put their kitchen skills to the test in a cook-off event at Rainhill High school.
During their time at the Academy, the youngsters are taught life skills including how to cook their own food and maintain a healthy diet.
But which player has paid the most attention during the culinary classes? Liverpoolfc.com went along to the cook-off to find out...
"Any cheese graters?" barked a familiar Scouse voice as Adam Morgan darted through the smoke that had engulfed the classroom.
He was in a race against a clock that was ticking quickly towards four, the time by which he and his Academy teammates would find out if their signature dish had cut the mustard.
Split into six pairs (and one single) they had a host of fresh ingredients at their disposal and 40 minutes to outdo each other in the culinary stakes.
In one corner of the room, Nacho, the Spaniard, was hosting a masterclass, stuffing raw pieces of chicken with cheese and brushing off accusations of sluggishness with: "It needs time; you English don't understand how to cook."
In another corner, Jakub Sokolik and Krisztian Adorjan prepared pasta, chicken, garlic and spices in pin-drop silence and with military precision.
Jordon Ibe listened with intent as Ryan McLaughlin outlined their menu and Brad Smith observed with curiosity as Villyan Bijev assembled the ingredients needed for beef and chilli samosas.
Craig Roddan partnered Morgan to cook up what the pair termed a 'Scouse Pasta Special' while goalkeepers Tyrell Belford and Jamie Stephens looked calm and relaxed as they went with beef and chilli pastries.
Stephen Sama was adamant from the moment he walked through the door that he had the culinary talents to go for it alone.
At four o'clock Frank McParland, academy director, and John Pout, head teacher at Rainhill, made their way around the room to sample and judge the meals.
Having tucked into seven fine offerings, the pair revealed their unanimous decision.
The winner? Nacho and his partner Henoc Mukendi.
In deserving second place came Sokolik and Adorjan with pasta and chicken in garlic, chilli and spices. Meanwhile, Bijev and Smith scooped third with their samosas.
