Liverpool's plans for a new £50 million first-team training facility have been given outline planning permission.

In February, Liverpool announced they planned to move their first-team training base to Kirkby -- where the club's academy setup is currently housed.

They will depart the Melwood training complex, which has been in use since the 1950s, and make the five-mile move in time for the 2019-20 season.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council has given Liverpool outline approval for the construction of a new combined training centre, redeveloping of the current academy and converting the "front pitch" at Kirkby into an indoor, covered pitch.

Liverpool's CEO Peter Moore said in a statement: "[The] approval by KMBC is another step on the journey in achieving our vision to bring our first-team players and young players together on one site.

"We have received positive feedback from local residents and businesses on our proposals during the public consultation earlier this year and we thank them for their continued support.

"As part of the planning process, we will now submit more detail on the scheme to KMBC before we have the certainty that we need to progress with the redevelopment of the site."

Knowsley Council's cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Councillor Graham Morgan, added: "The council and LFC have worked closely with the local community throughout the planning process and we are pleased the plans have received such an overwhelmingly positive response.

"I'm also delighted that the local community and sports clubs in Kirkby will benefit from the scheme with much-improved football pitches and sports facilities at Simonswood Lane.

"It is a great vote of confidence in Knowsley that an organisation of Liverpool Football Club's stature wants to expand its facilities in the borough."

In July, the Reds applied to Liverpool City Council for outline planning permission to redevelop Melwood, providing up to 160 new homes.