PLAYERS GROAN AND LAUGH
That's our match ball!
JASON: That's just landed in Anfield!
Away from the bright lights of Anfield,
thousands of amateur footballers take to pitches like this every weekend.
Some, well, they just play for fitness.
Others, they play for the social occasion.
But there are a few that think they can still make it.
Yes, lad, all the way, Shaun, all the way!
JASON: Ohh!
With that in mind, BetVictor,
along with myself and a couple of well-known acquaintances,
wanted to give a local club a helping hand to get them back to winning ways.
That's not offside.
GASPS AND LAUGHTER
Did you get that?
Welcome, to...
What's the history of the team then?
So we're Wavertree West Derby Old Boys,
we've been going for over 30 years now.
- OLD Boys? - Old Boys.
We're in the Old Boys League, Div Three.
- Div Three? - Of three.
Have you ever been in the First Division?
Yes, till about four years ago we were in the first.
We actually won the County Cup, quite a big one round here.
Yeah, yeah.
About four, five years ago.
How long have you been playing for these?
About a year, just over a year.
Just a bit of fitness on Saturdays.
Absolute mixed bag of standards.
- Is it? - Good laugh, yeah.
What position do you play?
Left wing.
You a lefty, are you left-footed?
No. I cut inside.
Is anyone a left-footer here?
No. I don't think there is no left-footers at all!
Good balance to our team, got a good balance(!)
What position do you play in the team?
Centre-forward.
- You're the centre-forward? - Yeah, targetman!
- Are you? - Yeah!
The big lad up front. Are you quick?
Used to be, not as much now.
We were gonna fold actually, after all that time,
and one of the fellas used to be the manager, and he turned round and said,
"Look, lad, I'll pick it up. We're gonna drop down two divisions
"so we can compete every week and try and win the league."
So you literally went out the First Division...
To the third.
But a little dickybird tells me... you have the worst pitch.
So if this is flat...
Yeah.
..what is the gradient?
We're talking...
- That?! - Yeah.
That's like a travelator.
It's shocking.
As they embark on this mission,
Wavertree West Derby are in some serious need of help,
currently seventh in Division 3
of level 15 of the football pyramid,
they sit only four places from being
rock-bottom of the entire league.
Taking all this into account,
I had to call upon the best manager this great city can offer -
Jürgen Klopp.
HE LAUGHS
- Jason. - You OK?
I'm very OK, and you?
Yeah, all good.
Wait, which is the manager?
I've lost him. I'll just shout.
Hopper!
Oh, here he is.
I'm Jon, nice to meet you.
Good to see you.
- How are you? - I'm very good, and you?
You been on holiday? You're looking tanned.
Yeah, yeah, I had a few days off.
I was just telling Jürgen, the pitch you play on...
is like this.
Ah, the grass pitch? Yeah, yeah.
Is it not easier going downhill first half,
get a load of goals and hang on for the second half, no?
Erm, that would be ideal - if we got a load of goals.
Hit it!
Argh!
Hit it!
Ah, BLEEP!
Go on, all the way, Shaun, all the way.
HE WHISTLES LOUDLY
Ah, I need to learn how to do that.
Not bad, huh?
Good to see you.
All right?
I am the talent scout of LFC.
Gaffer, I want a hug.
I owe you one.
Nice and sweaty, thank you very much!
Yeah, I saw you playing now for, how long, 10, 15 minutes?
I'm surprised. Positive!
Every Sunday league, Saturday league team has their stereotypical players.
So they'd have the hardman. Did you see the hardman amongst this lot tonight?
He looks surprised!
Graham has a ten-year love affair with our club, so...
But you know, being the hard one only means you're too late in the challenge.
I had the same issue as a player, that can happen.
He's the centre-forward of the team.
Yeah? Oh, that's good.
A lot of power!
They don't even listen!
LAUGHTER
These are the Everton fans.
That explains a lot, by the way!
Maybe you feel a bit inspired now, you can show your real quality!
Yes, come on, now he's under pressure.
Come on, show...
Yes. Nice and easy.
PLAYERS GROAN AND LAUGH
The hardest player of the division.
Whoa-ho-ho-ho!
I wish you all the best for the season.
And it all starts here, and it comes down to there.
And the team who wants it most will win the game.
And now Mr McAteer, huh? I listen.
Well, I've heard that your pitch plays on a slope.
You win the toss, kick downhill, score as many goals as you can,
and second half, just hang on!
Hang on.
That's good, proper English football.
PLAYERS LAUGH
Please show your appreciation for the Gaffer.
Oh, no, thank you very much, all good.
It was a big pleasure.
The lads receive an invite from the Gaffer to visit Melwood.
How was the game?
I draft in a very close friend who knows a thing or two about finding the net.
They are all over the shop when it comes to scoring goals.
And it's game day. Can the lads secure a vital three points in their promotion push?
Go on! Finish it!
Yes!
That's all next time, on Training S.O.S.