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Liverpool have confirmed that Sean O'Driscoll and Pepijn Lijnders have both joined the Premier League club’s first-team coaching staff.
O’Driscoll, who has a wealth of experience and was most recently in charge of England Under 19s, joins as Brendan Rodgers’ assistant.
Meanwhile, Dutchman Lijnders has been installed as first-team development coach after a successful spell in the Merseysiders’ Academy.
Rodgers, who is under pressure to oversee an upturn in the Reds’ fortunes next season following a disappointing sixth place finish last term, believes the shake up will be beneficial.
"I have made these appointments because I want to take us in a new technical direction, in terms of coaching.
"I believe the entire first-team set-up will benefit and I am extremely positive and excited about what we can achieve, as a group, going forward,” he declared.
O’Driscoll has also spent time in charge of Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Doncaster Rovers and Bristol City, which has been enough to convince Rodgers that his new colleague can help Liverpool to improve.
"My admiration for Sean, as a professional, is well documented," explained Rodgers. "He is someone with a clear vision and philosophy and has proved he has the ability to transfer that knowledge, through his coaching, to the players.
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"I am looking forward to working with him and also learning from his experiences and gaining valuable knowledge from his expertise," Rodgers insisted.
O'Driscoll added: "I am excited to be joining one of the world's most iconic football clubs. The hallmark of any successful club is its culture and that comes from the people who work there, from the chief executive and first-team manager to those people behind the scenes whose faces may not be known but who are the lifeblood of the club.
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"From the moment I drove into Melwood last week and was greeted by Kenny the gateman, I could not have been made to feel more welcome. If you are going to have any level of success these people are as crucial as the players; from my experiences so far it is clear everyone wants to help this club succeed."
Meanwhile, Lijnders’ role has been newly-created as part of the technical approach to coaching that has been introduced at Melwood.
Although the Dutchman has only been at the club for one year, having held roles at Porto and PSV Eindhoven previously, Rodgers is adamant that Lijnders will flourish with added responsibility.
"This presents a fantastic opportunity for Pep and one I know he will grasp with both hands.
"He has excelled at the Academy and I believe this is the perfect time for him to make the step up to the first-team set-up and use his talents for the benefit of the senior squad.
"Pep displays a passion and enthusiasm for his profession that is truly infectious and I believe will have a positive impact," the Northern Irishman explained.
