Thursday 20 September 2018 16:50, UK
Jurgen Klopp says the start of a £50m project to bring Liverpool's first-team squad and academy sides onto the same site is a "big statement from the club and owners".
The club held a 'ground breaking' ceremony to mark the beginning of the redevelopment in Kirkby which is expected to be completed by the summer of 2020.
Liverpool's first team currently train separately at Melwood, which is due to be redeveloped into housing once the move to Kirkby is completed.
"It's really a big statement from the club and the owners," Klopp said. "I'm really happy that we start [this project]. Melwood is a wonderful place but bringing everyone together is the step in the future which we all need.
It's pretty rare that a manager can plan that far but I am quite optimistic that I will be here when we start to use the facility.
"We are all convinced about that and for me especially when I heard we start in 2020 we have a chance to use it.
"It's pretty rare that a manager can plan that far but I am quite optimistic that I will be here when we start to use the facility. It's a great day."
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn have both progressed from the club's academy ranks to the first team and Klopp is convinced the move will enable the club to have a defined pathway through the ranks.
"I know already a good 15 or 16 players that will have a big chance to come through apart from the boys we have already," he added.
"Whatever we can do to make it easier and more likely is {great] and this is the first step in that direction."
The new facilities will also see the club invest in redeveloping the neighbouring community playing fields, which will be completed by next summer.
Liverpool's chief operating officer Andy Hughes told Sky Sports: "It's a huge milestone for the club.
"We have been working on this project for many years but the key thing is we are bringing all our training facilities together on one site which is very important for the development of our academy players.
"We are going to create clear pathways for all our players through to the first team."
Hughes admitted leaving Melwood will be a "huge shame" but insisted it will enable the club to move forward.
"It's been discussed as a club for a long period of time but I think where modern football is today in the Premier League, the facilities you need, we needed to make a decision and this clearly is the right decision to bring everyone together," he said.
Hughes added: "We do have planning permission for a housing development on that site [Melwood].
"There is no new announcement today; we are still working through that programme."
