Question 1

Does Liverpool run open academy trials?

Accepted Answer

No open trials for the boys' academy. Liverpool's model is built on getting the best seven and eight year olds in the North West before anyone else: a head of pre-academy recruitment, casual scouts assigned to Under-5 to Under-9 grassroots leagues, and an academy director who has said the pre-academy is about educating parents on why Liverpool is the right choice. Below that, the LFC Foundation runs a paid Player Development Programme from age three, with a talent identification sift before a place is offered. For girls there is a free Emerging Talent Centre with public expressions of interest and a strict 60-minute travel rule.

Question 2

How do players get into the Liverpool academy?

Accepted Answer

Scouted at Under-5 to Under-9 grassroots football: The academy employs casual pre-academy scouts to attend grassroots clubs, leagues and tournaments across the North West, report on players and support the trial process. Under-9 is the first registration. LFC Foundation Player Development Programme: Paid blocks of ten weeks, £40 to £100 depending on age, from ages 3 to 4 up through U9, U11 and U13 bands, plus goalkeeper groups. Entry by expression of interest, then a talent identification sift, then a booking link for those accepted. Girls: Emerging Talent Centre: Three blocks of ten weeks a season, feeding the club-funded girls' academy age groups. Expressions of interest open publicly, with talent ID nights at the end of each block. Players must live within 60 minutes of postcode L9 6AG. Trial period at Kirkby: Invited players train with the age group before a registration decision. The club has said it looks for long-term potential, movement and technique, not just three years of schools football.

Question 3

What should parents do if a Liverpool scout makes contact?

Accepted Answer

Ask whether it is the Foundation's Player Development Programme or the academy. The Foundation runs a talent ID sift, but it is a paid coaching programme. Ask how long the trial is and who decides. The academy director has said scouting decisions are about long-term potential, so ask what they saw. Check the one-hour rule to Kirkby at U9 to U11. Liverpool has said Merseyside recruitment is done almost entirely at that age. For girls, use the postcode L9 6AG and check the 60 minutes before applying. The club will not invite players outside it.

Does Liverpool run academy trials?

4 ways players actually get in.

WSL academy, PGA Category 1.

Three things parents get sold.

Other academies in reach.

Everton

Manchester United

Manchester City