Ask anyone connected to Liverpool for the last decade what separates Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher from the rest, and it is not just their talent.

It is their humility and connection with the community. If there is a recurring theme from the day of 'integration' between the senior and junior ranks, it is impressing on academy graduates there is more to being a Premier League player than just being a great footballer.

In the past, boot cleaning and dressing room sweeping used to be the rite of passage for apprentices needing to know their place. Many lament the passing of such an age, but Liverpool's Academy staff reject the image of emerging youngsters as too pampered. Cooking, bricklaying and car mechanics are part of the ritual now.

Right-back Ryan McLaughlin, an 18-year-old Northern Irish youth player who has already had a taste of the first team on last year's North American tour, understands why supporters think emerging youngsters are living in a bubble. He is also reassuringly honest about how to alter misconceptions.

"The manager has made it clear it's not about cars and money. It's about going out in front of 40,000 people and winning games and trophies," he says. "We're taught that every day. It's needed as well. You do see people go off the rails, more interested in the party life, but we're taught humility and how to keep away from complications.

"We have to appreciate how lucky we are, and that keeps us humble. This week we've gone to Alder Hey Children's Hospital and to the homeless shelter to help out there. That's something the club always wants us to be involved with.

"There is an emphasis on other life skills. We'll have cooking lessons so we can look after ourselves, or we'll have people teaching us how to replace a flat tyre. Day-to-day stuff you need to know.

"We all know we have this brilliant opportunity, we haven't done anything at all. Some people have been here in the past and fallen out of football completely at a young age."

Phil Roscoe, the Assistant Academy manager and head of educational welfare, says clubs have a responsibility to not only advise youngsters of the pitfalls of fame, but also assist those whose dreams go unfulfilled.

"Society has changed and the clubs have to deal with that," he says. "The lads now are different to ten years ago, and they will be different again in another ten years. It's hard for them because they are told what they should do by us, but there will also be their mates saying 'come out and spend some of that money'. It's not easy when you get those pressures.

"The biggest thing here now is everyone is in agreement what needs to be done and how to do it. We have complete support. If you don't have that cohesion, it won't work. I've been in situations where one staff member would advise one thing and another the opposite. It's not like that here."

The Academy's Education and Welfare Officer, Clive Cook, agrees. "There is a perception the boys have it easy, but I can assure you they don't," he says. "If they don't progress, they get released and that can be very difficult for any young person to deal with.

"What we want is well-rounded people, some of who will go on to achieve football success but others who might be successful at another club or in an another field.

"We can warn them about the distractions, but we know it's difficult. The real mates will be the ones who say 'don't go out tonight, stay in and make sure you're right for that game you've got coming up'."

The images of Liverpool's most famous sons are everywhere here, not least the giant canvas of a youthful Gerrard on a 'wall of fame'.

"I'm not thinking about it in terms of replacing any of those great players," says McLaughlin.

"The Scousers here know more about the traditions of who has come through, which may add some pressure, but we can all take encouragement from the knowledge Gerrard and Carragher went through the same process that we're now going through. We know what's possible if we do everything we can to achieve it."

Source: Telegraph