Liverpool sealed their return to the Champions League group stage this week with a comprehensive victory over Hoffenheim at Anfield. Following yesterday’s draw for the group stage, we look at just a few of the LFC Academy graduates to have represented the club in the competition previously.

LFC has long held a tradition of developing young players who go on to become first team players and represent the club in Europe. Since the introduction of the Champions League in 1992, replacing the European Cup, the Reds have qualified for the group stages on 10 occasions. In each of those campaigns, graduates of the Academy have represented the club against Europe’s elite.

Steven Gerrard

Where else to start than with one of LFC’s most decorated players. Steven Gerrard graduated from the club’s Academy and made his first team debut in 1998. When Liverpool returned to Europe’s premier club competition in the 2001-02 season, Gerrard was a key part of the team and would remain so for nearly two decades. Crucially, Gerrard inspired the Reds to a memorable Champions League win on that famous night in Istanbul in 2005.

Jamie Carragher

Sitting alongside Gerrard as one of the most famous alumnus from the LFC Academy is Jamie Carragher. The stalwart defender was key part of the LFC first team for more than 15 years, starring in no fewer than seven Champions League campaigns for the Reds, including the win in 2005.

Robbie Fowler

Fondly referred to as “God” by the Anfield faithful, Robbie Fowler had to patiently wait to pull on the famous red shirt in the Champions League proper. Despite appearing in some qualifying games in his first stint at Anfield, when Fowler returned to the Reds he finally made his bow in the group stages and scored his first UCL goals for the club against Galatasaray in December 2006.

Neil Mellor

Striker Neil Mellor is another graduate from the LFC Academy who went on to represent the club in the Champions League group stage and beyond. Mellor played a significant part in LFC’s 2005 success, and while he started in the group stage tie away to Monaco, it was in the memorable 3-1 home victory against Olympiacos he enjoyed arguably his finest moment.

With Liverpool needing to win the tie by two clear goals, Mellor was brought on as a sub on 78 minutes with the score at 1-1.

Within two minutes of his introduction, Mellor scored a typical poacher’s finish at the Kop End to put the Reds in front and then just six minutes after that his superb cushioned header teed up Steven Gerrard to fire home one of the most memorable Anfield goals ever and send Liverpool through.

Stephen Warnock

Full-back Stephen Warnock also featured in one of Liverpool’s most famous ever European campaigns as he was part of Rafa Benitez’s squad that lifted the Champions League trophy in 2005. Warnock came off the bench for his UCL bow in the group stage game away at Deportivo and was named among the substitutes on many occasions throughout the journey to the final.

All of these Academy graduates have all been brought through the club’s youth system being taught to play ‘The Liverpool Way’. The LFC International Academies around the world use the exact same techniques as are used at the Academy in Kirkby to allow participants to enjoy learning in the same way, developing skills both on and off the field.

For more information on UK or International Courses, please use the links in the menu at the top of this page.