Reds' Chilean rivals with Irish ancestry
Liverpool U17s will continue their Milk Cup campaign with a clash against O'Higgins FC – the Chilean side with a distinctly Irish-sounding name, who were once managed by Manuel Pellegrini.
O'Higgins play their senior football in Chile's top flight, at a stadium which can hold around 15,000 supporters, situated in Rancagua.
They take their name from founder Bernardo O'Higgins, who helped free the country from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence.
Bernardo's father, Ambrosio, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, which is just over 100 miles away from where the Liverpool Academy players are currently staying across the border in Limavady, Northern Ireland.
O'Higgins have won two Primera B titles, competed in the Copa Libertadores and in the old Copa CONMEBOL where, in 1992, they were managed by a man who will become a familiar face to Kopites when the 2013-14 season gets underway.
New Manchester City boss Pellegrini took charge of O'Higgins for the very first edition of CONMEBOL's annual tournament; however, his side were eliminated by Argentinean outfit Gimnasia in the first round.
Last season, under the guidance of Eduardo Berizzo, the club managed a fourth-place finish in the Chilean Primera Division, two places above Everton - of the Vina del Mar distinction.
Tonight, at 7pm, their U17s will lock horns with Mike Garrity's Reds at Scroggy Road in Limavady.