The five times European champions kick-off the NextGen Series, the inaugural U19 Champions League-style competition, against Sporting Lisbon wanting their young stars to get a real taste of what European nights are like at Anfield.
'For a few clubs involvement in a tournament like this was considered a big expense but we knew we had to go for it,' says Liverpool academy director Frank McParland.?
NextGen Series blog: Tomorrow's stars set to shine in tournament like no other
Plenty of promise: Conor Coady (R) will get a chance to showcase his skills in the NextGen Series for Liverpool
'As soon as we knew it was possible, Damien Comolli and Kenny Dalglish threw their full weight behind it because if you want to create a successful club it's important to be successful at this level. We've invested in the first team but these lads can safeguard the future.'
Looking ahead: Liverpool academy director Frank McParland
McParland returned to the club from a spell at Bolton just under three years ago. At the time they had only a handful of youth internationals, today they have 36 on their books.
One of the criticisms of Rafael Benitez's reign was that the club had lost it's British identity but the Spaniard was key in revamping the academy with the purpose of gleaning the same results as Barcelona's famed La Masia set-up.
Now manager, Kenny Dalglish was invited back to play a part with McParland while Spaniards Pep Segura and Rodolfo Borrell, who had worked at Barcelona to develop players such as Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Mikel Arteta, were also recruited.
'We knew things had to change,' says McParland. 'The idea is to try and recruit what you can and utilise your scouting network to bring in the best local players too. It's always been important for Liverpool to have local players coming through and now it's starting to take shape.
'The manager has shown he is ready to integrate players into the first team squad and we want to have a core group of nine or so players moving on at each level. This compettion gives them a fantastic opportunity to test themselves against some of the best sides in Europe and it's a barometer of where they are at.'
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John Flanagan, Jack Robinson, Andre Wisdom, Conor Coady and Stephen Sama are just some of the names becoming familiar to Liverpool fans while the competition is also likely to see a lot of former QPR player Raheem Sterling.
Apart from Liverpool's game tonight, Aston Villa travel to Ajax, Tottenham go to Basel while Celtic visit Marseille.
'Playing at Anfield is a big part of the lads' education, says McParland. 'It's important to have the game there and it would be great if the fans can let them have an early taste of what playing in Europe at Anfield is like. It's massive for them and helps shape them for that step up.'
Molde and Wolfsburg are also in Liverpool's group although McParland sees Barcelona, who are in Manchester City's group as favourites.
'Barcelona have got some great players,' he says. 'But City, Villa and Celtic are also very good. Even Sporting Lisbon. They have produced the likes of Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo and they keep finding them.
'Testing ourselves against these teams is a fantastic way for our lads to progress.'
Plan with the plan: NextGen Series co-founder Mark Warburton
McParland spent time at Watford with Mark Warburton, the current Brentford sporting director, who devised the NextGen format.
'We were always thinking of ways to move forward,' says McParland.
'You would have 18-year-olds coming up against 35-year-olds in reserve games and it wasn't really of benefit to the kids. They may be mis-matched physically or the opposition were more concerned about not picking up injuries so took it easy. So this way they can develop competitively and clubs can judge what level of progression they are at. It allows the coaches to develop too pitting wits against some of the best academies in Europe.
'It's exciting for all of us and am sure it will take off as the benefits will be reflected in the first teams.'
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Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail