Liverpool's U18 squad will make a special visit to Loughborough University on Wednesday, where they will be given a special guided tour and then play a friendly encounter in the evening.

Throughout the course of the season, the Academy staff are keen to allow the young players to explore different aspects of life and learn more about what it is like away from the pitch.

Explaining the reasons behind the trip, U18s manager Neil Critchley told Liverpoolfc.com: "Part of the boys' development is not just on the pitch, it's also off the pitch, and we are delighted to have been given this fantastic opportunity to take the squad to Loughborough University.

"We did something similar last season when we took the lads to Warwick University and they took so much from that.

"Our head of education and welfare, Phil Roscoe, has done a fantastic job to make this visit happen and it gives the boys a chance to look at university life and see their outstanding facilities.

"There will be a couple of presentations and we then get the opportunity to play against their university side in the evening, so we are really looking forward to it.

"It's so important to take the boys out of their comfort zone. Part of my job and the responsibility we have as a club is, yes we want to produce players to play in our first team, but we want to produce well-rounded, good people.

"This visit will open up their minds and broaden their thinking and see another aspect of life. Part of the trip will be football but part of it will be holistic development."

If you would like to attend the match in the evening, kick-off at Hollywell Park is at 7pm BST and admission is £10. The game will raise funds for the Daniel Wilkinson Foundation. Daniel graduated at Loughborough University but then tragically died from a heart condition after collapsing while playing football.