Macca, Fowler and Jones Return

Former Liverpool players Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Rob Jones have been drafted in by manager Brendan Rodgers to help coach the club's youngsters.

The trio are to assist the Under-21 and Under-18 squads at the Kirkby Academy.

"It's great to have Robbie, Steve and Rob on board," Rodgers told theLiverpool Echo.

"I wanted to get more former players involved and over the off-season I spoke to a number of them about a possible role here.

"For me it's so important to have players like that around. These are players who the young guys look up to.

"The three of them have come in recently and I know they have thoroughly enjoyed having that involvement of working with the kids.

"We're starting with the older academy players as they are ones they can really affect at this moment.

"It's both coaching and mentoring."

Rodgers has spoken previously about wanting to utilise the experience of the recently-retired Jamie Carragher, who has opted for a career in television.

The Northern Irishman has immersed himself in the club's history since arriving in the summer of 2012 and will continue to do so.

"Sometimes managers feel the need to distance themselves from players like that but I love what this institution is all about at Liverpool," he added.

"It's important to retain that connection with the history of the club.

"I want to protect that great history to ensure these players get the opportunity to be involved at a club they love."

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G'Day Blackpool for Fowler

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler is training at Blackpool with a view to signing until the end of the season.

After approaching Tangerines boss Ian Holloway this week, the 36-year-old ex-England international could make his debut on Friday night against Hull.

Fowler is vying for a place with Kevin Philips, 38, and Brett Ormerod, 35.

"People might say that's another older player but it's about the balance between the young and the old," boss Ian Holloway told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Players like Kevin Phillips, Keith Southern and Brett Ormerod keep the young ones going and show them how to do it.

"Robbie's just another one of those. Has he got some quality, and can he play a pass and can he score a goal?

"Yes he can, so it may sound outrageous to some people, but not to me."

Fowler is the fourth highest scorer in Premier League history with 163 goals, but failed to add to that in his last brief experience of top flight football three seasons ago.

In a three-month stay with Paul Ince's Blackburn Rovers in the autumn of 2008, Fowler failed to find the net in six appearances on a pay-per-pay deal.

But he was more successful the previous season at Championship level with Cardiff City, for whom he netted six goals in 16 appearances, enjoying a successful partnership with fellow veteran Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

After leaving Blackburn, he departed British football to play down under, first with North Queensland Fury before a season at Perth Glory, followed by a move last year to Thailand to play for Muangthong United.

Will Robbie Fowler be Next

After two high-profile comebacks in the Barclays Premier League, it was perhaps a little optimistic to think Fowler would be pulling on the red of Liverpool again when he was spotted at Melwood on Tuesday.

The legendary striker, who enjoyed two spells at Anfield during his career, took in the reserves match against Blackburn.

With Andy Carroll struggling and Luis Suarez still suspended, the Reds are certainly short of firepower up front.

But even Kop die-hard Fowler would now admit he'd struggle to return to the fast-paced arena of English football after stints playing in the backwaters of Australia and Thailand.

He is expected to be in the crowd for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City. Liverpool hold a 1-0 advantage from the first meeting as they attempt to book their first Wembley visit since 1996.

That was when Fowler and co wore those horrendous white suits on the pitch before their defeat to arch rivals Manchester United.

Asked about the suit, Fowler said: 'I've still got it, people still remind me about them. If we'd won nobody would have mentioned it but we lost and it has become infamous.'