Four Reds train with Merseyside Blind FC

The campaign, driven by the Reds' main sponsor and supported by the club for the fourth successive year, aims to tackle avoidable blindness and transform the lives of children and adults across the world.

Ahead of an upcoming fortnight of planned activity around the initiative, a group of Merseyside Blind FC footballers shared their unique skills with Steven Gerrard, Adam Lallana, Simon Mignolet and Mamadou Sakho.

Overseen by the team's specialised coaches, the session at Liverpool's training base challenged the quartet of renowned Barclays Premier League professionals to test themselves under altogether different circumstances.

Donning blindfolds, Gerrard and co were guided in the demands of passing and controlling the ball without sight, before attempting to successfully convert a penalty in the same fashion.

Afterwards, the Reds captain said: "Training with the lads and coaches from Merseyside Blind FC's squad was fantastic and made for a really enjoyable afternoon.

"They're all really talented players and it's amazing to see how they maximise their other senses in order to perform at their best."

Watch the video here »

Roy Turnham, a Merseyside Blind FC player and Team GB participant at the 2012 Paralympic Games, said: "It was such an amazing opportunity for me and the team to visit Melwood and get the chance to train with Gerrard, Sakho, Lallana and Mignolet. It's something that will stay with us all for life.

"On behalf of the squad, I would like to thank Liverpool FC and Standard Chartered for inviting us along to Melwood and hosting us for a very special afternoon to raise awareness for such a great cause."

The training session formed part of Standard Chartered's ongoing 'Seeing is Believing' campaign, which the bank has now been supporting for more than a decade.

There are 39 million blind people worldwide, yet in eight out of 10 cases blindness can be avoided, and 90 per cent of avoidable blindness occurs in the developing world and affects many communities where the organisation operates.

But through simple treatments and affordable surgeries, this initiative aims to benefit not only those who receive care but also their families, and is one of the most cost-effective health interventions - a cataract operation, for example, costs as little as £20.

David Fein, group general counsel at Standard Chartered and the chairman of 'Seeing is Believing', commented: "It's great to have the support of the Liverpool players and the local community to help raise awareness of our 'Seeing is Believing' initiative.

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"This is an issue which has a huge impact on many individuals' lives across the world, which is why it remains close to people's heart, as it does ours."

For the fourth consecutive year, Liverpool will replace the Standard Chartered logo on their shirts with 'Seeing is Believing' when Tottenham Hotspur visit Anfield on Tuesday February 10, to again raise awareness of the campaign.

Five limited edition player jerseys from the Premier League game will subsequently be signed and made available for supporters to bid on in a week-long eBay auction to generate funds for the initiative.

All donations will be matched by Standard Chartered, making the fixture the 'Perfect Match' - with the club and main sponsor coming together to back an important worldwide cause.

For more information on the 'Seeing is Believing' initiative and to make a donation now, click here to visit the campaign's official website.