'Jerome benefits from Fowler advice'
Liverpool U21s head coach Michael Beale has explained how specific work on the training ground with Robbie Fowler has inspired the likes of Jerome Sinclair to strike fear into opposing defenders this season.
Sinclair has netted 21 goals so far across all levels for the Academy and is expected to feature in tonight's clash with Sunderland at the Kirkby Academy - a match you can watch exclusively live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO from 6.30pm GMT.
"Robbie has been doing some specialist work with our strikers, in particular Jerome, Samed Yesil, Jack Dunn, Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo before he went out on loan," Beale told Liverpoolfc.com.
"Robbie has been as keen as mustard and he certainly hasn't lost it when it comes to scoring goals, and it has been of great benefit for the likes of Jerome to work with him.
"It's fantastic to have the likes of Rob Jones, Steve McManaman and Robbie working with these lads. The three of them have been a fantastic help to me, Alex Inglethorpe and Neil Critchley.
"It's not just training on the pitch. Sometimes it may even just be a quick word in the ear, passing on their experiences, which can make a big difference.
"We have been working with the forwards on their movement and scoring percentages from different positions in the box."
The young Reds go into tonight's encounter with the Black Cats on the back of a brilliant 2-1 win away at Manchester City, where Daniel Trickett-Smith came off the bench to net a priceless winner from the penalty spot.
"There's a lot of fight for competition in our squad and a lot of the boys who can also play in the U19 squad have had an excellent season so far," said Beale.
"Daniel has been competing alongside the likes of Ryan Kent and Ojo for a starting berth and both of them have been on fire for us.
"He hasn't played much recently because we haven't played that many games at U21 level, but he deserved to get the winner at City. He had only just come on and he picked the ball up and wanted to take that penalty and what a fantastic mentality that is.
"I was really pleased for him and he got a lot of credit for that."
Ahead of the latest outing under the Kirkby floodlights, Sunderland are a point ahead of Liverpool in the Barclays Premier U21 League Division One, but Beale's charges have played two games fewer.
He added: "We've got a game a week now until the end of the season and the lads are looking forward to them.
"We've played two or three games less than a lot of the other teams, but it will be a tough game against a Sunderland side who, like ourselves, beat Manchester City in their last game.
"They have also had a few players go out on loan and they have a young coach like myself in Robbie Stockdale who is also in his first year in the job, so I'm looking forward to seeing him."