Academy Northern Ireland tour begins
As one summer tour draws to a close over in Thailand, another is just beginning closer to home for Liverpool's Academy starlets, who touched down in Northern Ireland yesterday to contest the prestigious Milk Cup.
A group of 36 youngsters flew out from Manchester Airport on Sunday afternoon and arrived at George Best Belfast City Airport ready to participate in the world-renowned international youth tournament.
It's a competition that attracts the best talent from across the globe on an annual basis and the Reds have entered two sides this year - an U17 squad in the premier section, and an U15 side in the junior.
The likes of Manchester United, Corinthians and CSKA Moscow are among the teams the U17s could face, while at junior level, rivals Everton and a team put together by the Japanese FA could provide stern competition for our U15s.
The Liverpool lads will face their first games today, as the U17s take on County Armagh, while the U15s face County Tyrone. To learn more about the set-up of the Milk Cup and who the Reds will face, click here.
Mike Garrity, who will take charge of the U17s side for the trip, told Liverpoolfc.com: "We're still in pre-season, so we're still working on getting our fitness back. But I think it's important that the boys experience a trip like this - travelling to a place outside of England and to such a well-known and well-run tournament.
"We arrived yesterday and at the parade to open the tournament, you could see all the squads lined up - and there are some good sides here. I just think it's a really good experience for the boys to taste. It's great for the development of players."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who played in the competition when he was a teenager with Ballymena in the late 1980s, travelled to Belfast earlier this year alongside Reds winger Raheem Sterling to perform the draw for the competition.
Rodgers said: "Youth football is about experiences and the more good experiences you can get, the better you become.
"The Milk Cup is a great breeding ground for young talent and players enjoy being part of it. It is one of the best experiences you will ever have in your life as a young footballer.
"It's been going 31 years and most of the top players throughout the world have played in it. Going back years ago to when I played there, Liverpool were there and were a great draw, attracting big crowds.
"We have a huge support both in the north and the south so it's going to be great for the Irish people to see the talent we've got here coming through."
The Reds' U17 squad in full for the Milk Cup is: Andrew Firth, Ben Jackson, Tom Brewitt, Dan Cleary, Sam Hart, Kristof Polgar, David Roberts, Corey Whelan, Ryan Kent, Will Marsh, Alex O'Hanlon, Seyi Ojo, Pedro Chiverella, Adam Phillips, Harry Wilson, Louis Robles, Darius Whaldron, Sergi Canos.