'Melwood training is intense but you have to impress'
Liam Coyle has explained the experience of being an Academy player given the opportunity to train at Melwood under Jürgen Klopp.
During the international break, the 18-year-old joined a host of young players included in sessions at the first-team complex.
The Scouser missed a large part of 2017-18 due to injury and is now determined to make up for lost time with Neil Critchley’s U23 squad.
Coyle will hope for a starting berth when they host Derby County at the Kirkby Academy on Sunday afternoon – a match you can watch live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO with kick-off set for 1pm BST.
Ahead of the game, read his thoughts on the Melwood experience, fighting for a place, and cheering on Harry Wilson…
On a return to action this term after spending the majority of 2017-18 on the treatment table…
It feels great for me to be back involved with the team. I’m training hard every day to try to get myself back into the U23s team.
On training at Melwood during the international break…
It’s always a really good experience. You see the intensity and the level go up instantly, so it’s a lot harder but you have to get used to it as hopefully that is where you are going to be one day. You have got to not let it faze you too much. You have just got to play your game and not worry about it. It’s great seeing the manager, shaking his hand and speaking to him but once you are on the football pitch you’ve just got to do what you do. I don’t think you can get ahead of yourself just because you’ve been to Melwood once or twice. This week I was up at Melwood for two days and then back in Kirkby, so I’ve just got to do the same at the Academy that I did up at Melwood and keep working hard.
On his fight for a place in the starting XI at U23 level…
I’ve just got to keep working hard in training every day and show people what I can do, like I’ve always done for years and just try to let my football do the talking.
On playing a key role in the U19s’ 5-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Youth League…
That was my first proper start in a while and it was good for me personally to get the opportunity. We got off to a good start and played really well and were all over them really. They have got some good players as well but we played well on the day.
On facing Derby in Premier League 2 at the Kirkby Academy on Sunday…
I always enjoy playing here, especially on the front pitch. We are at home and we want to work hard, keep trying to impress and hopefully get the win.
On the stunning free-kicks scored by Wilson recently for Derby and Wales…
I’m not as close to Harry as he has a few years ahead of me but even so, I’ve trained with Harry and played alongside him and when you see him score goals like he has it’s a proud moment for the club and the Academy, as well as Harry himself. Me and the lads are really buzzing for him.