Rodgers outlines Youth Cup vision
Brendan Rodgers has explained why the FA Youth Cup is the only competition he covets at youth level.
Steve Cooper's U18s begin their two-legged semi-final against Chelsea in this year's competition on Friday at Anfield, aiming to win a trophy Liverpool last claimed in 2007 - a game you can watch live on LFC TV from 7.30pm BST.
The first-team boss has kept a close eye on the youngsters and their progress through the tournament - which has included victories over Swindon, Histon, Leeds and Hull.
"I thought the team was excellent in their quarter-final win at Hull," the Northern Irishman explained to the official Liverpool FC magazine.
"The model, composure and quality they showed were good and then they stepped it up in the second half when the speed of the game was better and their qualities came through.
"Equally importantly, they were strong defensively as well. It's terrific to see we've got some talented players who have promise and over the next number of years we hope to develop that promise and hopefully help them make their way through into the first team."
Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom have walked that path since Rodgers' arrival as manager, while 17-year-old Jordon Ibe was selected for the squad which travelled to Southampton last month.
The boss continued: "It's very important that the young players feel they have hope.
"We spend a lot of time with the Academy and we moved Rodolfo Borrell into the role of head of coaching as he understands the principles that we are trying to bring out. We also brought in Alex Inglethorpe, who again understands exactly the model of how we want to work.
"Alongside that it's been about implementing those values and ethics into the young players so that they understand the demands when they come to first-team level.
"The young players have been great this season - Suso, Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom, and young Conor Coady has had a game in the Europa League too - so it's been a productive year for them.
"I've been really pleased with the young players' development, but they've got to work even harder to get up to Melwood and stay here."
Hard work is demanded but the manager insists winning trophies is not the primary target for the Reds' U18 and U21 outfits.
"The FA Youth Cup is the only competition that I would really look for the youngsters to do well in," said Rodgers.
"For me, the U21 and the U18 leagues are almost irrelevant in terms of results because there are so many circumstantial things that may happen to affect them.
"I would rather see 16- or 17-year-olds play in the U18s than have a team full of 18-year-olds winning the league because ultimately it's about getting players through to the first team.
"You need good players and teams but it's not the be-all and end-all. For me, what is important is that week-to-week in the U21s and the U18s, the young players are getting the opportunity to learn and develop.
"I would much rather have that than, say, a team winning an U21s league but not produce a first-team player."