Mike Marsh is joining Brendan Rodgers' first team coaching staff at Liverpool.

The 42-year-old will move up to Melwood from his role as U18s coach after assisting the Reds' new boss and backroom team over the course of pre-season training.

Rodgers told Liverpoolfc.com: "Michael will sign a deal this week. For me, it is very important to have people with the sort of root of Liverpool in their heart, the soul of the club.

"I've come in and I've got an understanding of what it is like. I feel I'm from the same bottle of the people of Liverpool and the city, with similar backgrounds. There are no worries about that, and I've also got players from Liverpool in the first-team group.

"When I went to Swansea, I went in on my own and promoted a couple of people from there, such as Colin Pascoe to first-team coach. He was a former player there and from the Swansea area. There was also Alan Curtis, who was a player for the club for many years and a Welsh legend. I feel it is important to have people who have the soul of the club and who understand."