Ovie Ejaria says his game is improving by training with Liverpool first team

Liverpool Under-23 midfielder Ovie Ejaria claims training at Melwood with the first team players will help him improve his game and is hoping it can help him get some "minutes" with the senior team, if called by Jurgen Klopp in the 2016/17 season.

The 18-year-old joined the Merseyside club in the summer of 2014 after spending nine years at Arsenal. He was included in Liverpool's pre-season squad by the former Borussia Dortmund manager and featured in all the matches that took place in July.

Ejaria picked up a groin injury during the Reds' pre-season fixture against Chelsea at the Rose Bowl, California in July. He returned to action when Liverpool Under-23s registered a 3-1 victory over Arsenal Under-23s. The midfielder explained his versatility allows him to operate in multiple positions, but admitted he prefers playing higher up the pitch.

"Training with first team players, top players, every day, is helping me improve my game so it's really good," Ejaria told the Liverpool Echo.

"I think I can play in any midfield position to be honest but I think my strength is more attacking, playing further up the field.

"I want to keep getting games with the U23s and hopefully I can get a chance to get minutes with the first team if I keep doing well and keep impressing.

"In pre-season the manager was just saying to us (young players) to keep playing, keep doing what we're doing, that we're doing well. It gave us confidence and I think you could see that when we kept going on the pitch."

Klopp was in attendance when Michael Beale's side registered a crushing 4-0 victory over Leicester City Under-23s. Ejaria was on the scoresheet and the midfielder expressed his delight after his side dominated the match at Prenton Park.

"It was really good, we dominated the ball, we dominated the game, especially in the first half. It was really a joy to play in that game," he explained.

"It was a bad time to get injured (in pre-season) but I kept working hard off the pitch in the gym and I'm glad to get back playing now. I'm 100% fit.

"I'm trying to get my goals and assist numbers up and hopefully I can keep doing both. It's going well at the moment."