Steve McManaman knows all about what it means to represent Liverpool, having enjoyed a glittering career at Anfield before going on to achieve success on the European stage.

The former Reds winger was among those supporting last week’s LFC Foundation Darts Night at Anfield, an event bringing together sporting stars and familiar faces to raise funds for the Foundation’s fantastic work in the local community.

We caught up with McManaman to discuss the importance of events like this, his enduring connection with Liverpool and some of the memories from his time at the club.

From his Anfield days to the current Reds side, there was plenty to discuss with one of Liverpool’s most recognisable former players.

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On the LFC Foundation: “If you can help out in any way for any charitable foundation, it’s amazing, isn’t it? But, of course, when you’re helping the club as well, it goes without saying that if you can do it, you’re here, aren’t you! I’m not backing myself [at darts], but I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be funny. I’m playing Chris Kirkland, thankfully, rather than Stephen Bunting.

“Somebody said Chris Kirkland was good. I think we can all play darts, but we’re just not as accurate as some people. There are levels, aren’t there? If I hit a treble 20, it’ll be pure luck. You can only try, can’t we?”

On players from the academy getting a chance: “It’s great. Even going back to Brendan Rodgers, he gave a lot of players opportunities when they were in the Europa League and things like that. Jürgen did the same, and I think Arne did to a certain extent.

“We’ve lost a few academy players of late, as you know – which is unfortunate.

“So it was really nice on Wednesday, at the Chelsea game, to see players involved. I know we didn’t bring Rio through the academy, per se, and Trey is the same, but it was nice to see Lewis Koumas and James McConnell playing and people being in and around the first team.

“With the World Cup taking place, a lot of the first-team players from last year and the year before didn’t go on pre-season training. It was great, and I really appreciated the fact that loads of academy kids were in front of the manager every single day during pre-season and out in America. That was great to see, and I think the manager really appreciated having them around.

“It goes without saying that I really like it. I’ve been at the academy for five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten years now. I was there today, training with the Under-18s, and that’s great.

“I saw the Under-21s as well, and they’ve got some young lads in there. Josh Abe is in there now; he’s jumped up because he’s still only young.

“I love the fact that players can come through. Whether it’s Curtis or going back to Trent, they’ve played a huge number of games for the first team, and that’s always brilliant to see.

“It’s important that they play lots of games. We’ve got people who play one or two games and then get moved on, but if you can really sustain it and stay in the first team for a long time, I think that’s incredibly important, certainly for Liverpool Football Club.”

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On the current crop of wingers: “Absolutely. Pace, skill – it’s exciting.

“Cody is a lot more experienced, so I’m not really talking about him, but certainly Rio and Bradley in the Liverpool shirt have so much potential.

“It’s just about knowing when to deliver the ball into the right areas, at the right time, and getting on the scoresheet. It’s all about the end product.

“God, you can see they’ve got far more talent than I ever had. Their body swerves and their movement of feet are incredible. But it’s about the final ball, the final decision and doing the right thing consistently.

“Sometimes Rio is play, play, play, quick, quick, quick – amazing. Then, instead of crossing it, he’ll come back and do quick, quick, quick again.

“It’s just about learning when to release the ball, when to give it and when to make the right decision. But the talent? Wow. They’ve got bundles of it, haven’t they?”