Liverpool have named a 40-man squad for the UEFA Youth League—the academy equivalent of the Champions League—including Curtis Jones and Rhian Brewster.
The young Reds kick off their campaign against Paris Saint-Germain at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens on Tuesday afternoon (3pm kickoff BST).
With their fixtures mirroring those of the first team, and the two squads traveling together for away games, this provides them with valuable experience in Europe.
Barry Lewtas will manage the U19s, and has submitted his squad list to UEFA ahead of the first game of the competition.
Jones, Brewster, Kamil Grabara, Rafa Camacho and Bobby Adekanye are among the most high-profile players included, along with Adam Lewis, Liam Coyle, Elijah Dixon-Bonner and Edvard Tagseth.
U18s captain Paul Glatzel is also listed, and will be vying for a starting role with the likes of Liam Millar and Glen McAuley, as well as strike partner Bobby Duncan.
Duncan is one of three new signings to be named, with Ki-Jana Hoever and Matteo Ritaccio in line for their first taste of the UEFA Youth League with Liverpool too.
Despite being sidelined until December, Brewster is included, though he is more likely to be considered for the Champions League.
Players in the squad must be born on or after January 1 of 2000, though five ‘over-age’ players are permitted in the squad, those being Grabara, Lewis, Coyle, Adekanye and Millar.
Three players aged between January 1 and December 31 of 1999 can be included in any game, and as of this season managers can make five substitutions.
Caoimhin Kelleher could not, therefore, be included, having been born in 1998, but the Irishman could now be considered third-choice goalkeeper for the first team.
After PSG on Tuesday, Liverpool take on Napoli (A) on October 3, before clashes with Red Star Belgrade (H and A), PSG (A) and then Napoli (H) on December 11.
Last season, Steven Gerrard‘s U19s made it to the quarter-finals of the tournament, but lost 3-2 on penalties to Man City.
Liverpool Squad, UEFA Youth League
Goalkeepers: Grabara*, Jaros, Kelly
Defenders: R.Williams, Hoever, Clayton, Boyes, Savage, Lewis*, N.Williams, Larouci, Walls, Boland, Lloyd
Midfielders: Jones, Dixon-Bonner, Tagseth, Coyle*, Sharif, Cain, Ritaccio, Brookwell, Clarkson, Varesanovic, Beck, Turner, Norris, Corness, Morton, Stewart
Forwards: Brewster, Millar*, McAuley, Camacho, Adekanye*, Glatzel, Duncan, Longstaff, O’Rourke, Bearne
* Over-age player.
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