Marsh on U18s, CL and his debut

The former Reds midfielder returned to his spiritual home back in 2009 and has since risen through the Academy's coaching ranks, culminating in his appointment as U18s coach this summer.

The unassuming Scouser is relishing the new challenge facing him and is confident the Reds' Kirkby youth base will continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.

Here he tells Liverpoolfc.tv just what it means to be coaching players with the potential to be our stars of the future.

Hello Mike, you were installed as the club's new U18s coach recently. How pleased are you to take on such an important role?

I'm honoured to be offered the position. It's a job that I didn't anticipate taking on this early but it's one I can't wait to get stuck into.

The Academy has made great strides over the past two years and we've started to see the benefit of that in the first team. How exciting is it to be so involved in the set-up ?

It's great to be here. There have been a few changes in personnel over the past few years as they look to get the right people in the right jobs. I think you can see there is some real talent here and both players and staff are being rewarded for the tremendous amount of hard work that they are putting in.

What do you make of the philosophy that has been installed by the likes of Frank McParland and Pep Segura?

We've got a way of playing that Pep introduced when he first arrived here. We all work to it and I'm a great believer in it. Hopefully we will continue to get success from it.

It's very much an U21s centre with the reserves also based in Kirkby. It's a different type of facility now, isn't it?

Yes, it's pretty much a development centre. It'll be very rare that we have first-teamers involved unless it's with a player returning from long-term injury or something like that. Most of the reserves will be around 21 and under. It's exciting times and we are all looking forward to the new season.

The calibre of players in our youth set-up was further highlighted at the recent U17 World Cup where no fewer than seven Liverpool youngsters were involved...

It's great to see them get the reward for all of their efforts. I think one or two had a belated call-up as they maybe should have got the nod a bit earlier. To see any of our players in the England squad is great for the club and they will have all benefitted from that experience in Mexico.

We've also seen a clutch of youngsters making a contribution on Liverpool's tour of Asia with Conor Coady scoring his first goal for the club. Again, that must be great to see for the staff who have helped bring these players through...

It's fantastic. I thought he took his goal really well. The way all of those lads conduct themselves is superb and they don't look out of place. They've all looked composed when they have been called upon to play and they are giving themselves the best chance possible.

This will be your first season as U18s coach but you've been at the Academy a while now, haven't you?

Yes, I came back in 2009. I came here from Preston where I started out coaching the U14s. I got a phone call and was asked to join the set-up here. I was with Steve Cooper looking after the U16s and took on that sole responsibility when Coops helped out with the reserves towards the end of last season. I must have done okay because they've given me another fantastic opportunity now. I will give it my all to be successful.

Your knowledge of the U16 players should be of huge benefit this year, particularly as a number of them are now first year scholars...

There are a few lads that have made the step up with me and I think followers of youth football at all age groups will already know that we have some good players coming through. I've also coached the second year scholars as they were the U16s when I first joined so that has given me a nice head start.

Click on the play button below to watch the U18s hit eight against Stevenage

You've already played two pre-season friendlies and scored 14 goals in the process - you must be very satisfied with your preparations so far...

Like I've said, we've got a way of playing and when we came back in two weeks ago we were straight back into it. By the time the Tranmere game came around they were already moving the ball around the way we had asked them to and we've now got six games left to fine tune ahead of the league opener.

What will it be like to be working closely with Kenny Dalglish once again?

It's great. Everyone knows he's a legend and I suppose it's come full circle for both of us. I don't think anyone would have believed he would be the boss again if you'd asked them a few years ago, but he's here now and the place is buzzing.

Kenny handed you your debut against Charlton Athletic way back in 1989. What do you remember about that day?

I can only just remember it now to be fair. It's a while ago! I remember warming up and getting the call. It was at Anfield so that was a nice moment for me. I was told I was going to be replacing big Jan Molby. It was around the hour mark when I made my entrance and we were leading 1-0 thanks to Peter Beardsley's first-half opener. I actually should have got the second goal of the afternoon but Aldo nicked it off my toe right at the end of the game.

The Next Generation tournament gets under way this season and will feature the reserves at U19 level. Do you expect to lose players to that?

I would expect Rodo will call upon us from time to time. I think we've definitely got players in our U18s set-up who could step up and play at that level. It will be a great experience for them to be involved against some of the best young talent in Europe and we'll be happy to help out if required.

Just finally, have you set yourself any targets for the new season?

No, not really. I'm under no illusions though. This is Liverpool Football Club and you are expected to get results. At the same time it's also about development. Maybe there will be times when it is a bit of a juggling act. I know there will be occasions where Rodolfo (Borrell) will want to take some of them for the reserves and maybe Kenny will want some for the first-team squad. Whatever happens we'll still be expected to win playing in the right way.