Liverpool U18 coach Steven Gerrard says his first season in charge has been a great learning experience.

Gerrard's youngsters play their final home game of the campaign when they entertain U18 Premier League northern section winners Manchester United at the Academy on Friday evening.

“I think you learn from every game, whatever the scoreline is, especially when you are new to the job like myself," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“It's my first year of coaching and you try and learn in every training session and in every game.

“It has certainly been a bigger challenge since January – when you look at it, a lot of goals and creativity was taken away from the squad.

“Obviously, Neil Critchley is using those players in the U23s, and rightly so because they have been superb in the first part of the season, but it does make the challenge that bit more difficult."

"Looking back at almost a full year in the job, Gerrard added: “It has flown by. I remember our first pre-season game against Burton Albion at St George's Park.

“I've really enjoyed this experience and I'm certainly in a much better position now than when I first got going."