STEVE COOPER says it is vital to strike a balance between giving positive and negative feedback to his young players.

The Liverpool under-18s manager was delighted with most aspects of the team’s play in their victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

But as Cooper strives to get the best out of the young Reds, he also found areas for the side to improve on.

At this stage of the players’ careers, Cooper says identifying development opportunities are key.

“We are very positive with the boys and let them know of all the good work they are doing,” he said.

“But they are very much in the development stage and so have got things to improve on and so we focus on that as well.

“We are playing the right way and getting better at control of the games through possession.

“But this is such a young team.”