Liverpool's Academy youngsters spent the afternoon at Alder Hey Children's Hospital on Wednesday, handing out Easter eggs to patients and meeting their families.

The club has a long-standing relationship with Alder Hey and the senior Liverpool players make an annual trip to meet the kids each year during the Christmas period.

As part of the players' commitment to community work on Merseyside and beyond, many of the Reds' U18s and U21s travelled to the hospital in West Derby.

Conor Coady, Jack Dunn, Jordon Ibe, Ryan McLaughlin, Adam Morgan, Danny Ward and Samed Yesil were all in attendance on this occasion - bringing a smile to the faces of the children and gaining perspective in the process.

"It's a real eye-opener for us," McLaughlin reflected to LFC TV.

"We're all thinking of how lucky and privileged we are. It brings a tear to your eye sometimes. When you're giving them an Easter egg, it brightens up their day - it gives you a great feeling.

"The lads are always excited to come here because you get a great feeling when you're making them happy and seeing them smile. You like to help in any way - talk to them and be friendly.

"We are concerned and we really want to know how they're getting on. Hopefully they get well."

U21s captain Coady added: "It's fantastic to come here. We've been quite often now; to see the kids and the smile on their face makes it even better.

"It's always good for Liverpool players to come to places like this. Hopefully it will make a difference and make their Easter a bit happier."

Phil Roscoe, the club's head of education and welfare, helped to co-ordinate the visit and explained afterwards why such afternoons are vitally important to the development of young players.

"It's a regular visit which we've been doing for a number of years. Particularly around Easter, we like to get a selection of Easter eggs, come here with the squad and give them out to the children," he said.

"It's something that we feel strongly that we should support. It gives the players an idea of what a real problem is like; some of these children are quite ill.

"It makes them realise the impact they can have on someone's life and, in doing something like this, how you can help them. It's a good thing all round."