Liverpool will enter the EFL Trophy for the first time in their history next season, with the Reds Under-23s set to take part.

On Friday, it was confirmed that the Reds would be entering their own team into the tournament next season after accepting an invitation from the Football League.

Rather than the Reds' Under-23s entering in full however, it is understood an U21 side will be taking part with Neil Critchley expected to remain in charge.

The draw for the tournament takes place in July with the opening round of fixtures pencilled in for the first week of September, with a mixture of the Reds' U23 and U18 teams forming Liverpool's involvement.

Liverpool U23 manager Neil Critchley during the PL2 match at Anfield on April 28, 2019
Liverpool U23 manager Neil Critchley during the PL2 match at Anfield on April 28, 2019

The 64-club competition includes teams from as many as 48 from League One and League Two, with 16 Category One Academy sides making up the rest of the tournament.

Liverpool will join Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham in the competition with the top six sides in the Premier League all having representation for the first time.

Everton have been regulars over the past couple of years, with the Reds' rivals keen to give their youngster further exposure to competitive football outside of the Premier League 2.

It is a school of thought that is now being adopted at Melwood and Kirkby as the club seek to hone and develop their next generation of talent.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Rhian Brewster

Such further experience can only be deemed a positive for youngster at the club's Kirkby Academy, giving them a chance to pit their wits against more experienced players from further down the football pyramid.

The U21 age group means players such as Rhian Brewster, Curtis Jones and Ki-Jana Hoever and Rafa Camacho are eligible to take part.

However, in the case of Brewster, he will be considered a first-team player next season, meaning he is unlikely to be involved.

Jones, Hoever and Camacho all made their senior Liverpool debuts in the 2-1 defeat to Wolves in the FA Cup back in January but are more likely to form part of the thinking when the EFL Trophy gets underway later this year.