Steven Gerrard 'to take charge of Liverpool Under-18s' team next season

Steven Gerrard is expected to take charge of Liverpool’s Under-18s side from next season, as the former midfielder steps up his responsibilities in his boyhood club’s youth system.

Gerrard, who made a total of 748 appearances for Liverpool over the course of a 17-year-long stay at Anfield, returned to the club on a full-time basis earlier this year after bringing his playing career to an end last November.

The 36-year-old has combined duties as a coach at the club’s Kirkby-based academy with studies for his coaching badges and appearances as a television pundit for BT Sport.

According to The Times, Gerrard's application and work ethic since taking on the role have impressed Jürgen Klopp and academy director Alex Inglethorpe enough for him to be rewarded with a place in the dugout.

Upon announcing his departure from Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy last year, Gerrard turned down an offer to manage League One outfit MK Dons, later claiming that the opportunity had come “a bit soon”.

​Gerrard then accepted an offer to return to Liverpool and started his wide-ranging role at the academy in February. “It feels like completing the circle; returning to the place where professionally it all began,” he said in January.

Liverpool's Under-18s side is currently managed by Neil Critchley, the former academy director of Crewe Alexandra. Critchley's side sit third in the Premier League U18 North table, level on points with Manchester United and nine behind runaway leaders Manchester City.