English Football Academies

Liverpool FC Academy

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Liverpool FC Academy allows the club to invest in upcoming footballing talent. Providing the network, coaching, health and lifestyle advice that each player needs to create a strong football foundation. If you are looking for a career in football, and live in the Liverpool catchment, then your best chance will be to join Liverpool FC Academy. Check out the football academies information section for the latest academy articles.

About Liverpool FC Academy

Liverpool FC Academy offers an advanced football development and education programme supported by expert and dedicated staff. Liverpool FC Academy address is: The Academy, The Liverpool Way, Kirkby, Liverpool, L33 7ED. Liverpool FC Academy uses advanced technology and coaching methods to develop their players. They are actively looking for upcoming talent to join their academy, and are very selective about who gets in, as competition is tough.

Liverpool FC Academy Category Status

Liverpool FC Academy are rated as a Category One status Academy. Academy Category One clubs are now allowed to recruit from all over the UK for any players U12+. Previously, Category one clubs could only recruit talent within a 90 minute travelling time to the Academy, but the premier league reconsidered this following thinking that the best talent should be allowed to play in the best academies even if they do not live nearby. This gives the best talent the best chances of success, thus growing home grown talent for the international stage. This has seen a rise in host families being recruited by Liverpool FC Academy, to help house young promising talent in safe family environments.

Liverpool FC Academy Fixtures

Liverpool FC Academy has a whole programme of upcoming activities, fixtures and events. Check the times of each match or look up the venue for any of the Liverpool FC Academy age groups.

Liverpool FC Academy Trials

Many upcoming football players search online for information on how to join Liverpool FC Academy? There are many ways to joining Liverpool FC Academy, however the most common are being scouted for a trial, then working your way through the Academy system. For some players, the preferred approach is sending video links of their skills to Academy staff. It is worth bearing in mind that clubs receive thousands of videos each week and simply do not have time to watch them all, so the most effective way of getting scouted for a trial at Liverpool FC Academy is to join a Liverpool Soccer Schools. Scouts regularly select young players from soccer school sessions and invite them to trial at the development centres. Anyone can attend a soccer school, so it an open door for all to get spotted.

It is also good to attend soccer schools as soon as old enough, as it enables them to develop their technique at the same level as their peers.

How to get spotted by Liverpool FC Academy staff or scouts

Liverpool FC Academy staff offer players with potential, the chance of a 6 week trail. Many players are lucky enough to find themselves in the right places when scouts are watching games. However Liverpool FC Academy are also aware that talent can slip through the net. They offer players the chance to directly contact the club with there playing profile. For information on how to present your playing career in the correct manner, check out our Football CV page. They are unable to respond to everyone due to the volume of applications.But this does serve as an effective way to alert scouts about talent.

Liverpool FC Academy Players

To find out all about the current crop of talent, visit the Liverpool Academy players page.

Liverpool FC Academy Graduates

Here are some of the high profile Liverpool FC Academy graduates from over the years:

Billy Liddell
Danny Guthrie
David Fairclough
Gary Ablett
Ian Callaghan
Jamie Carragher
Immy Case
Jon Flanagan
Michael Owen
Mike Marsh
Phil Thompson
Raheem Sterling
Robbie Fowler
Ronnie Moran
Ronnie Whelan
Sammy Lee
Stephen Warnock
Steve McManaman
Steve Staunton
Steven Gerrard
Tommy Smith

Liverpool FC Academy Staff

For information on the dedicated people behind the develop on the academy players, check out the Liverpool FC Academy staff page.

Liverpool FC Academy Jobs

Liverpool FC Academy are always searching for the best talent on and off the field, if you would like to work for a category one Academy, then keep an eye on the official Liverpool FC Academy jobspage.

Syllabus at Liverpool FC Academy

The training programme at Liverpool FC Academy is broken into technical and tactical training, with a special module for Goalkeepers. The below demonstrates:

The professional development phase at the Liverpool FC Academy
The youth development phase at the Liverpool FC Academy
The foundation phase at the Liverpool FC Academy
The youth / professional development phase at the Liverpool FC Academy
The foundation development goalkeeper phase at the Liverpool FC Academy

Professional Development Phase at Liverpool FC Academy

Outfield Players – Technical

Passing – Playing forwards through tight passing channels
Receiving the ball – Receiving the ball in the air to pass in the least number of touches
Passing – Generic passing practises to move the ball on two touches
Running / Dribbling with the ball – Developing the 1st touch to break through a variation of receiving surfaces
Running / Dribbling with the ball – Variations in the dribble to advance in 1 v 1’s
Shooting – Shifting the ball to get shots off under pressure
Passing – Keeping the ball moving for a long period of time
Manipulating the ball – Shifting the ball across the body with a variation of surfaces
Turning – Turning away from pressure and protecting possession of the ball

Outfield Players – Tactical

Possession (Playing out from the back) – Midfield rotation to receive high and low open up passing channels
Possession (Retaining the ball to penetrate) – Working in front or behind opponents to retain the ball looking to play forwards
Possession (Game management) – Playing with and against an overload (the extra man)
Attacking (Counter attacking) – Breaking from the defending third
Attacking (Centrally) – Playing between lines and breaking lines with and without the ball
Attacking (Wide areas) – 1 v 1’s, 2 v 2’s to create goalkeeping opportunities
Defending (Individual) – Approach to the ball dependent on the opposition and area of the pitch
Defending (Groups & Units) – Defending later and deeper
Defending (Making play predictable, Regains and Possession Decision) – Pressure as the team/group hunting the ball for quick regain

Goalkeepers

Goalkeeper support – Variety of passes and support for players in possession
Goalkeeper support – Awareness of best option looking to penetrate with distribution
Goalkeeper support – How the goalkeeper can affect the state of the game
Goalkeeper defending – How to deal with 1 v 1 situations in game situations
Goalkeeper defending – Early shots always being set in and around the box
Goalkeeper defending – Positioning and decision making in dealing with the cross
Goalkeeper communications – Organisation and support to the defender
Goalkeeper communications – Communications to players away from the ball
Goalkeeper communications – Developing the goalkeeper to compact

Foundation Phase at Liverpool FC Academy

Outfield Players – Technical

Protecting the Ball – Setting the scene for receiving on the safe side – guidelines for success
Passing – Short, quick and high tempo passing in small groups
Receiving the Ball- Developing the set as part of link play to move the ball forwards
Turning – Developing turns under passive pressure to include disguise
Shooting – Longer distance shooting relevant to the age of the group
Running / Dribbling With the Ball – Long and thin practices to practice breaking into space from a dribble or receiving the ball
Shooting – One touch finishing around the goal on angles with pressure approaching
Passing – Passing within larger areas focusing on techniques to a longer pass (floor / aerially)
Manipulating the Ball – Quick foot movements to manipulate a small skills ball

Outfield Players – Tactical

Possession (Individual) – Developing players to receive the ball and maintain possession on their safe side
Possession (Group Play) – Develop players to receive and play away from pressure in small groups
Possession (Directional) – Possession / wave practises maintaining the speed of the ball from start to finish
Attacking (Individual) – Changes of direction and speed to beat opponents
Attacking (Groups) – Small group attacking practices (4v4, 5v5). Movement/combinations to create and exploit space
Attacking (with/against overloads) – Small sided games working on creating and exploiting space on the transition
Defending (Pressure the Ball) – Basic principles to approaching a player in possession
Defending (Small Groups) – Possession based practices focusing the change of roles based on the movement of the ball
Defending (Regaining to Play) – Regaining the ball and countering to a scoring conclusion

Goalkeepers

Goalkeeper support – Passes and throws to start play
Goalkeeper support – Choosing the best distribution option
Goalkeeper support – Using the ball quickly after making a save
Goalkeeper defending – Throw ball situations and close range shots
Goalkeeper defending – Attacking the ball and parrying away to safe areas
Goalkeeper defending – Making recovery saves within the game
Goalkeeper communications – To defenders individually and as part of a unit
Goalkeeper communications – Developing the ability to be clear and concise
Goalkeeper communications – Start positions in relation to the ball

Goalkeeper Youth / Professional Phase at Liverpool FC Academy

Goalkeepers – Technical

Distribution – Out of the back to the best option and supporting the play
Crossing – Dealing with deep crosses into the 18 yard box and transition to distribute
Shot Stopping – Into line and down the line of the ball for angled strike
Handling – Dealing with low balls around the set position inclusive of the 1v1 encounter
Shot Stopping – Dealing with low, medium and high dives from a central and angled strike
Crossing – Dealing with crosses centrally and to front post areas
Shot Stopping – Dealing with close reaction shots, double and triple saves
Distribution – Technique of starting counter attacks, choice of delivery
Crosses – Dealing with crosses centrally and to the back post area

Goalkeepers – Tactical

Goalkeeper support – Start play using a variety of passes and providing angles for support for players in possession
Goalkeeper support – Awareness of best option looking to penetrate with distribution
Goalkeeper support – Managing the game and understanding how the goalkeeper can affect the state of the game
Goalkeeper defending – Dealing with 1v1 game situations
Goalkeeper defending – Dealing with early shots always being set in and around the box
Goalkeeper defending – Positioning in relation to the ball, decision making on dealing with the cross
Goalkeeper communications – Organisation and support to the defender (clear and concise information)
Goalkeeper communications – Communications to players away from the ball
Goalkeeper communications – Developing the goalkeeper to compact play through the line taken by the defending players

Goalkeeper Foundation Phase at Liverpool FC Academy

Goalkeepers – Technical

Handling – Footwork set in position with a variation of serves
Distribution – Playing out from the back from feet and hands, providing angels of support
Handling – Variation of handling practices concluding with penetrative distribution
Shot Stopping – Dealing with 1v1 encounter
Shot Stopping – Low, medium and high diving sales from central
Distribution – Technique of longer distribution for feet and hands (classic counter attacks)
Shot Stopping – Speed of movement across the goal in the line down the line of the ball for an angled strike
Handling – Technique of dealing with low balls in and around the body
Crossing – Basic technique and positioning (in relation to the ball) covering balls into front middle far areas

Goalkeepers – Tactical

Goalkeeper support – Using a variety of passes and throws to start play
Goalkeeper support – Choosing the best distribution option
Goalkeeper support – Using the ball quickly after making a save
Goalkeeper defending – Dealing with through ball situations and learning how to deal with cross range shots
Goalkeeper defending – Attacking the ball and parrying away to safe areas in game situations
Goalkeeper defending – Making recovery saves within the game
Goalkeeper communications – Communication to defenders individually and as a unit
Goalkeeper communications – Developing the ability to be clear and concise
Goalkeeper communications – Set positions in relation to the ball