'Balotelli experience can aid youngsters'
As Liverpool U21s return to action on Friday night with a clash at West Ham, Michael Beale feels the youngsters will go into the clash in a buoyant frame of mind having trained with the likes of Mario Balotelli at Melwood during the international break.
The U21s coach insists the sessions with Brendan Rodgers and his first-team squad will prove invaluable as they now embark on a busy period of matches domestically, as well as their forthcoming debut in the UEFA Youth League.
Tonight's clash with the Hammers is being screened live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO, with our coverage starting at 6.30pm BST ahead of the 7pm kick-off.
With the majority of the first-team squad away on international duty, Beale and his squad were invited down to Melwood for training sessions.
Beale told Liverpoolfc.com: "It's been a fantastic period for the boys as some of them have been away on international duty, and the ones that haven't been away have been lucky enough to have trained with the first-team squad at Melwood, so that has been a great experience for them.
"To get the chance to train with players like Adam Lallana and Balotelli has been fantastic."
Having not played a competitive fixture since August 22, Beale admits his charges are relishing the chance to play at another first-team stadium in Upton Park.
He added: "Playing at a first-team stadium adds an extra edge to the game.
"When you get to play at Anfield like we did in our last match and now at Upton Park, it's fantastic for the lads because this is what they dreamed of doing when they were younger.
"We are playing against a club that has a huge tradition for youth development and it's one we are looking forward to. They will be a really competitive side who work hard. I know their coach Nick Hancock well and he is a good coach who has his teams playing good football."
After the clash with the Hammers, the Academy youngsters face Ludogorets Razgrad in their opening UEFA Youth League clash on Tuesday at Langtree Park, St Helens - another game you can watch exclusively live on LFCTV.
Despite a hectic schedule, Beale insists the youngsters can't wait for the challenges that lie ahead.
He said: "We've got a lot of players who will be in the U19 squad, so the next three months will be hectic with six UEFA Youth League games and the U21 games coming thick and fast.
"I think if you are a player that's fantastic because every time you wake up every morning, when you get out of bed you have something to look forward to and it's something that you are pushing for, so the level we are training at is really high.
"To get the chance to play against the likes of Real Madrid and Basel in the Youth League is what you want as a player. If I was 18 again I'd be coming into work with a buzz about me and really looking to kicking on and doing well."
Since their last outing against Manchester United, Kristoffer Peterson has moved on to pastures new as he sealed a permanent transfer to Utrecht.
Beale was quick to praise Peterson, who was a very popular member of the Academy dressing room.
He said: "Over the last 12 months the maturity and development we've seen from Kristoffer as a player and person has been fantastic and he deserves this move.
"He will get to play in a first-team stadium week in, week out, in a really good league so we all wish him well. He was a fantastic character who served Liverpool very well.
"We will miss him because he was a great mentor and role model for some of the younger players in our squad and if he needs any advice in the future he knows he can call Alex Inglethorpe or myself any time."