Liverpool confirm Sean O'Driscoll as assistant manager and Pep Lijnders for Brendan Rodgers' backroom coaching staff

The Reds report back for pre-season training

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool confirmed the appointments of Sean O’Driscoll and Pep Lijnders to the senior coaching staff this morning, as many of Brendan Rodgers’ squad, including James Milner, reported for pre-season training.

While O'Driscoll will leave his role with England’s Under-19s to replace Colin Pascoe as assistant manager, Lijnders will take on a newly created position, which will involve one-to-one work with first-team players.

Lijnders will continue to operate closely with the most exciting teenagers at the club’s academy, reinforcing links between Melwood and Kirkby, and enabling Rodgers to cast an eye on emerging talent at an earlier stage.

The Dutchman, who was recruited from Porto last summer and put in charge of the Under-16s side, has since impressed Rodgers and the academy director, Alex Inglethorpe, with his ability to implement tailored individual coaching programmes and improve technical aspects in a player’s game.

Lijnders is not viewed as a replacement for Mike Marsh and the search for a new first-team coach continues, with Liverpool hoping to assign an ex-player to the role. Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler are among those under consideration, although McManaman is thought to be content as a match analyser with BT.

Having rested for two weeks following England’s elimination from the Under-21 European Championship, Danny Ings will arrive at Melwood on Wednesday, earlier than planned.

Milner will be joined on his first day by fellow new signing Nathaniel Clyne as well as other England internationals Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling, whose future is still to be determined. If Sterling is to leave Anfield, with Manchester City still his most probable destination, any deal is unlikely to be negotiated before Liverpool fly out to Bangkok on Sunday.