Liverpool's academy technical manager Josep Segura has seen an improvement in the quality of players in his charge which can only augur well for the future. Promotion through the ranks has become increasingly difficult at most Barclays Premier League clubs because of the need for instant results.
Segura knows their main task at the academy is to provide better quality players who can cut it at the highest level.
"The most important thing for Liverpool is that these players aged 16, 17 and 18 years old go on to become professionals with this club," said the Spaniard, formerly an academy and B team coach at Barcelona.
"This is our target. It is clear that we must strive to produce great players to play for Liverpool for years to come and hopefully they can help us to win many trophies at first-team level.
"It is not an easy challenge for us but it is one that we must work hard to make a reality with every passing day."
Segura added on liverpoolfc.tv: "When I was at Barcelona we won the equivalent of the youth cup at under-18 level.
"Everyone was delighted and it is a great memory, but only five players went on to become professionals with the first team.
"I feel we have made good progress since I arrived here in the summer of 2009, the academy is growing and the level of our players is growing too.
"I said when I made the move here that the opportunity to work for such a great club was one I could not turn down.
"The aim is now to ensure that this great club is blessed with some of the best homegrown players of the future."
