Watch: Coutinho and Wijnaldum v 30 Academy youngsters
Philippe Coutinho and Georginio Wijnaldum are used to finding ways to win football matches – but those talents were recently put to a unique and enormous test at the LFC Academy.
The Reds duo were in Kirkby for a game like never before, taking on a side containing no fewer than 30 of the club’s pre-Academy squad at the same time, including two goalkeepers at once.
Coutinho and Wijnaldum were bolstered by the loan signing of stopper Daniel Moore from the youth side, but how would the senior stars cope with the unusual task of keeping almost three teams’ worth of players at bay?
Would they be able to overcome the 10-9-9 formation they faced during an action-packed 15-minute encounter? Take a look at how the match unfolded in the highlights package below…
The special contest was arranged to celebrate a landmark day for many of the young players, 22 of whom are today signing their first professional contracts with the club ahead of stepping up to U9 level.
Joined by their parents, the youngsters put pen to paper alongside new U18s manager and Reds legend Steven Gerrard at Anfield, where they will also be special guests on stage at the 2017 Players’ Awards on Tuesday night.