'Developing players is the priority'
Liverpool U18s manager Neil Critchley has revealed how a chat with Brendan Rodgers reiterated the philosophy that producing players for the first team is more important than winning games.
Rodgers initially coached youngsters at Chelsea before making his name in the spotlight at senior level, and is therefore well equipped in deciding the best way forward for the club's Academy.
In a season which has already seen Jordan Rossiter and Jordan Williams make impressive debuts in front of the Kop, the mood in the camp in Kirkby is extremely positive.
And as Critchley's U18s squad prepare to host Everton in the mini-derby on Saturday at 11am GMT, he admitted the Academy staff are in a buoyant frame of mind after a chat with Rodgers.
Critchley told Liverpoolfc.com: "We had a good chat with the manager this week and he stressed the importance about how there is only one result that counts at the club and that is the first team.
"That's not to say we don't want to win and the results aren't important, but it's not the main focus at youth level.
"Don't get me wrong, come 11am on Saturday morning we will be wanting to win and beat Everton, but it's also good to know that the manager isn't putting you under pressure to get results - which is not always the case at youth level."
The young Reds will be hoping to bounce back from last Saturday's defeat at Sunderland when they host an Everton side who have won five games in a row since they suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to Derby County.
"It was a disappointing result at Sunderland but not a disappointing performance," Critchley added. "We dominated large periods of the game and even before we went 1-0 down we could easily have been 1-0 or 2-0 up.
"We had a great chance to equalise but got a corner and from that they broke forward and scored, which was disappointing, but the lads showed great sprit and great fight. I was disappointed for the boys because we didn't get what we deserved.
"We've had some great games recently and Everton is another one we are looking forward to. It's a derby game and we had indifferent experiences last season, good and bad, and it should be a good game.
"You do get a competitive game. When players have been at the clubs for a number of years they know each other well, so there is a healthy respect and rivalry and a big desire to win the game.
"Everton might have won their last few games but I don’t pay any attention as to how other teams are doing because our attention is just about what we are doing and how we are improving our players."
One player making particularly good strides is 17-year-old Spaniard Sergi Canos. With six goals already this season and numerous assists, the former Barcelona starlet is making quite an impression.
After making his debut halfway through the last campaign, Critchley believes his best is still to come in a red shirt. He said: "Sergi has been very good this season.
"He is showing us what he has got in his locker and that is he is capable of scoring goals. He scored a terrific goal at Sunderland but what is more pleasing is how good the defensive side of his game is now.
"He has had to adapt to the way we play and coming to another country takes time, but he is adding to his game much more willingness to defend for the team and we are really pleased with him. He is a real talent."