Liverpool have made the notable decision to synchronise training times across the academy and first team, while the academy director has relocated his office to work more closely with Arne Slot.
In recent years, the Reds have been working to strengthen the bond between the academy and the first team, starting in November 2020 when the senior squad moved training ground from Melwood to the site of the youth teams in Kirkby.
Jurgen Klopp was known for his willingness to play youngsters, and the development of this link to the youth teams is now growing with Slot as head coach.
The Athletic‘s James Pearce reports that a new development this season “has seen synchronisation of training times for the first team, under-21s and under-18s, with most sessions starting at 11:45am.”
This has allowed for flexibility in youngsters being moved, when needed, over to the first-team pitches to play with the senior squad.
This should improve the development of Liverpool’s young prospects even further, given the standard and intensity of training they will experience around Mo Salah and co.
The aforementioned move from Melwood made this far easier, and this is just another step in the right direction.
In addition, Pearce wrote: “Alex Inglethorpe (academy director) speaks regularly to Slot, who invited him to do some coaching with the first team in pre-season last summer.”
“Ties have been further strengthened since he recently relocated from his office in the academy to one in the first-team building.”
The academy’s £20 million redevelopment
• READ: Liverpool’s academy to undergo £20 million redevelopment
This news of training synchronisation came at the same time as the Athletic reporting that Liverpool are planning a £20 million redevelopment of the Kirkby academy.
Liverpool will submit a planning application this month, with the aim of completing the project by 2028, which highlights the changes that will be made.
An indoor dome will be built on the current main pitch and connect to the existing building at Kirkby, though this will temporarily displace home matches for the U21s and U19 Youth League.
The club are also seeking to enhance their medical and sports science areas within the academy set up, with FSG viewing the redevelopment as recognition for the academy’s role in the club’s recent success.
Inglethorpe said: “We’ve always been patient as an academy, knowing where we sit in the order of things, but now it’s our turn and it’s really exciting.
“We’ve never had a full-size indoor facility before that would match up with a lot of our competitors. While I’m all for toughening them up in the Kirkby wind and rain, there are a lot of days when we have to cancel training or the quality of a session is compromised.
“It’s going to make a massive difference. We’re already reaping the benefits of the changes made this summer.
“It’s important for the boys and their families to see that investment. I’ve always felt supported and there’s recognition from the club that we have contributed a lot in terms of player sales.”
Over £100m, in fact, was generated this summer from selling players who had played in the academy, and the redevelopment of the youth teams’ facilities is viewed as a long-term investment for the club.
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