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It’s the day that Steven Gerrard has been waiting for.

After six weeks in his new role as Liverpool Under-18s boss, the Kop icon will take charge of his first competitive match when they kick-off their Premier League campaign away to Derby County on Friday (1pm kick-off).

“There’s massive excitement for me and my coaching staff,” Gerrard told the ECHO.

“We are a bit of a new team and we feel like we have done everything we can to prepare the players.

“All the training is done now and the responsibility is over to the team to go and carry out those instructions and try to get us off to a positive start.

“This is what it’s all about - the day I’ve been looking forward to for a while.”

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Academy football is all about development and Gerrard’s task is to get players into Neil Critchley’s under-23s and ultimately the first-team set-up. However, the longest serving captain in the club’s history is also determined to instill a winning mentality in his squad this season.

“I want to win and so do my coaching staff and my players,” he said.

“They are at the wrong place if they don’t want that. Liverpool is about winning.

“Of course the bigger picture and the main responsibility is to get players on to the conveyor belt. You need to get them up to Critch and Critch needs to get them up to Jurgen.

“We’re totally aware of the priorities here but at the same time you need to create values and habits within footballers themselves.

“There’s no way you can get to the top unless you get the key points of the game drilled into these players early doors. That’s why we’ve been strong and firm with them in pre-season.”

The under-18s spent a week at a training camp in Hungary before taking part in a tournament in Switzerland. They were knocked out by Fulham in the semi-finals but won the third place play-off against Juventus.

“It’s been a great learning experience for me, especially getting the lads away on tour and being around them 24 hours a day,” Gerrard said.

“You learn a lot about them, both on and off the pitch. You get to know them better as people as well as players. We feel like we’re prepared and in good shape.

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“We’ve had a lot of positives from the pre-season and we’ve had a lot of negatives which we feel we have had time to address and work on.

“This is the age where they are going away from schoolboy football into a man’s game. It’s a good test for them but it might take them a little bit of time to adapt. That’s where I need my second year apprentices to help the first years settle.

“I’ve probably got seven or eight out of a squad of 23 still around from last season’s under-18s and the rest are new. It’s about trying to get those first years up to speed as quickly as possible and getting them used to full-time football.”

Gerrard’s plans for their opening Under-18 Premier League fixture have been hampered by a defensive injury crisis. Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Tom Clayton, Neco Williams, Dan Griffiths and Paul Glatzel will all miss Friday’s game at the Derby County Football Academy.

“The injuries are disappointing and it’s left us a bit short defensively,” he said.

“I’ve got a couple of midfielders who will do a job for me in those positions at the back. That’s where our issues lie. I am hoping in a month or two we’ll have a settled back four.

“In terms of midfield and up front, I’m really happy with how we’re looking.”

Liam Coyle is Gerrard’s captain but the Liverpool-born midfielder has been training with the under-23s at the Kirkby Academy so the armband may need to be passed on.

“If Coyley is ever available for the under-18s he will captain the team,” Gerrard said.

“If he’s not about then we’ll name a new captain but I haven’t told the squad who that will be yet.”

Gerrard is clearly relishing his first coaching job and has told the youngsters they are at the perfect club to realise their hopes and dreams. The chances Jurgen Klopp has given to the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn serve as the perfect motivation for those looking to follow in their footsteps to Melwood.

“If I am one of those young players and I’m in their shoes, I’m thinking we have got a manager with a record of putting young players in and giving them an opportunity,” Gerrard added.

“That’s not the case at certain other clubs where kids must be really frustrated and feel like their pathway is blocked.

“If you are good enough here and you show the right things on and off the pitch, it will only be a matter of time before that’s recognised and you move along.”