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Bill Shankly once described it as “a sorry wilderness”.

When the legendary Liverpool FC boss was shown around Melwood following his appointment in 1959 he was shocked by the state of the dilapidated training ground in West Derby.

He said: “One pitch looked as if a couple of bombs had been dropped on it. ‘The Germans were over here, were they?’ I asked.”

It boasted an old cricket pavilion with no heating alongside a crumbling air-raid shelter.

Watch: A tour of LFC's Melwood complex

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Shankly set about revolutionising the place during his reign and 55 years on the site now boasts a state-of-the-art facility.

Every day during the season hundreds of fans gather outside the iron gates hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes and bag a few prized autographs as the players head for home.

This summer, while Brendan Rodgers’ stars either take a well earned break or go in search of glory in Brazil, the doors have been thrown open with supporters given the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Melwood.

The tour provides a fascinating insight into the daily lives of the manager and his players.

It begins outside the frosted glass front of the building which is adorned with a giant Liver bird. It’s the spot where Liverpool will parade their new signings when the players return to duty in July.

From there knowledgeable guide Alan Herr leads everyone into the media room where Rodgers faces the world’s press on a weekly basis. The room is also used for team meetings with a giant screen available for video analysis.

Then it’s into the plush reception area where there are two striking permanent fixtures.

Fittingly, close to the main entrance sits a bronze bust of Shankly with the quote: “Above all, I would like to be remembered as a man who was selfless, who strove and worried so that others could share the glory, and who built up a family of people who could hold their heads up high and say ‘We are Liverpool’.”

Gallery: Exclusive Melwood tour

It’s the first thing players and staff see on their arrival each morning closely followed by a gleaming European Cup encased in a glass box to provide inspiration.

“It was Rafa Benitez’s idea to put it there,” said Herr. “But that’s just a replica, the real one we got to keep in 2005 is in the museum.”

Below the trophy is a quote from the Spaniard: “To me, being part of Europe’s elite is central to this club’s ethos.”

Then it’s through the usually locked door and into Melwood’s inner sanctum. First stop is the boot room – the traditional black and white footwear of the coaching staff in stark contract to the array of colours favoured by Luis Suarez and co on the opposite rack.

This is where players put on their special vests which have a built in GPS system that collects a multitude of statistics on speed, distance, heart rate, accelerations and decelerations.

It’s especially useful in pre-season but is also used throughout a campaign to tailor training schedules and help identify the risk of injuries.

There are three outdoor pitches which are served by 23 miles of undersoil heating. The middle pitch which has exactly the same dimensions as Anfield – 101 metres by 68 metres – is currently being relaid. Melwood also boasts an indoor 3G surface.

The tour takes you into the physio room and the vast array of medical equipment and then past the hydro pool used for rehabilitation and into the gym.

Motivational quotes adorn the walls from Muhammad Ali’s “I hated every minute of training, but I said ‘don’t quit, suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion” to Michael Jordan’s “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”

Rodgers recently described Raheem Sterling as his ‘Man of Steel’ and tour guide Herr revealed that the stats back that up.

“Raheem is the quickest in the squad and pound for pound he’s also the strongest player,” he said.

The modern complex has been around since 2001 and the design was heavily influenced by then manager Gerard Houllier.

The Frenchman wanted to ensure players stayed around after training and hit the gym before continuing up the stairs and into the canteen where the squad eat together.

“It’s not free though,” revealed Herr. “All the staff and even the players have to pay for their meals. It’s taken out of their wages each month.”

There is also a giant TV screen surrounded by sofas and pool and table tennis tables.

With so much of the past celebrated around Melwood, Rodgers has put some focus on the present by having a montage put on the wall of iconic images from his reign to date.

From there, it’s out on to the landing in front of the manager’s office where the pictures aren’t of star players but the club’s famed support.

“A lot of thought has gone into it,” Herr said. “This is the last thing the players see before they head down the stairs and out to the coach or to their cars. It’s about reminding the players who they are playing for.”

Tours, which include a mini-tour of Anfield and return transport to Melwood from the stadium, run every day until 22 June 2014 and cost £30 for adults and £15 for children. For further information go to www.liverpoolfc.com/melwood.

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