The Crewe Alexandra squad travel to Liverpool’s Academy complex this afternoon to train with the Premier League club’s Under-23 youngsters.

Crewe boss David Artell was keen for his players to train and test themselves against different opponents in the build-up to the new season.

Dave explained to the club’s official website: “We thought that it would be a different experience for the players to train with a Premier League club. We will go over there and their coaches will put a session on for us and we will do likewise for them. I’m sure there will be a little game at the end.

“It will give the players a different perspective. They will be up against good players and they will not be familiar to them. They will have to think because they will be training with the unknown. They will have different traits, tricks and movement. It will be a good experience for them.

“In those one v one situations they will have to make decisions quickly and concentrate. I think it will be good for them to have a different perspective. I know this club used to have a strong relationship with Liverpool and things have changed in the game but it is something we would like to rekindle. It is only a positive thing to have strong relations with elite clubs.”