It’s a big weekend for Liverpool FC’s academy with their U18s and U23s sides playing their first home matches of what is set to be another exciting season at Kirby.Neil Critchley’s U23s welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield on Friday (7pm) before the U18s, now managed by the highly regarded Barry Lewtas after Steven Gerrard’s departure to Rangers, take on rivals Manchester United at the academy on Saturday (11am).We preview both matches – and talk much more besides – in our first Academy Show podcast of the new campaign.Our Liverpool FC correspondent James Pearce guests on the show after spending the afternoon in the company of Critchley and Lewtas.The rise of Trent Alexander-Arnold to integral first-team squad member was the highlight of a brilliant season for the academy last time out.And there is real hope that there are more players ready to follow in Trent’s footsteps. The likes of Curtis Jones, Rafa Camacho and Nat Phillips certainly staked a claim with their performances in pre-season and James explains what could happen next for the trio and why goalkeeper Kamil Grabara has a real opportunity on his hands.James also discusses the futures of Sheyi Ojo and Pedro Chirivella before talk turns to the U18s and their summer signing Bobby Duncan, the highly rated young English forward who is the cousin of Reds legend Gerrard.That in turn leads to a debate about why Liverpool is now seen as the club to go to for talented young players before James rounds off the podcast by talking about the returning Pep Lijnders.Enjoy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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