Benitez Cohorts Sacked as Liverpool Academy Undergoes Radical Overhaul – Report

Liverpool have sacked academy chiefs Frank McParland and Rodolfo Borrell with immediate effect in a complete overhaul of the club's youth set-up, according to the Liverpool Echo.

McParland, academy director, and Borrell, academy technical director, were both appointed by Rafael Benitez in 2009 and have overseen the graduation of several first-team players during Brendan Rodgers' tenure in charge including Jordon Ibe, Suso, Andre Wisdom, Adam Morgan, Samed Yesil, Jerome Sinclair and Conor Coady,

Jon Flanagan, Martin Kelly, Jack Robinson and Raheem Sterling have all received regular first-team opportunities having also progressed under the guidance of McParland and Borrell, and the pair's proficiency while working at the club's Kirkby training base means their double departure comes as a major shock.

Liverpool's Under-21 side reached the semi-final stage of the inaugural Under-21 Premier League last season and have once again impressed this season.

The club have so far refused to comment but Rodgers is expected to be questioned regarding the report during his press conference on Thursday ahead of Saturday's Merseyside derby against Everton.

McParland, who had previously worked as Liverpool's chief scout, took up the role as academy director in the summer of 2009 and has enjoyed glittering success with the Reds building among the most formidable youth set ups in the country.

"At the Liverpool FC Academy we have one simple aim - to produce footballers of the future by nurturing the natural talent of youngsters from Merseyside and beyond," he told the Liverpool official website.

Borrell arrived on Merseyside with a reputation enhanced by his spell at Barcelona where he had worked with the likes of Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas at the Catalans' much-famed La Masia academy.

After beginning as coach of the Under-18s and Under-21s, Borrell was promoted to the role of technical director last year.

It is yet unknown whether Liverpool have moved to replace the pair but the likes of Under-21 coach Alex Ingelthorpe and Under-18 boss Neil Critchley are likely to be among the contenders to take over.