FA YOUTH CUP: McAuley sets his sights on a Youth Cup hat-trick

Jan 29 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

SINCE Manchester United won the first five FA Youth Cups back in the 1950s no team have won the trophy in three successive seasons.

And in their bid for the hat-trick Liverpool’s youth side face one of the toughest tests possible as they take on last year’s semi-finalists Arsenal in a fourth round clash tonight at Anfield (kick-off 7pm).

Just like Liverpool, Arsenal have done well in the competition in recent years having lost in extra-time in the last four to Manchester United last season, while the Gunners also won the prestigious youth tournament in 2000 and 2001.

But the nature of the Youth Cup – being an under-18s competition – means that most of Liverpool’s side are fairly new to it with only Swedish midfielder Astrit Adjarevic and Steve Irwin having been involved in last season’s successful run. The rest of the squad have only played in the 5-0 third round victory over Wycombe Wanderers before Christmas.

It will also be the first time most of the squad have played at Anfield, and coach Hugh McAuley hopes it inspires rather than inhibits his young players.

As was seen by Havant & Waterlooville’s brave show in the FA Cup at the weekend even those who have never played there before can thrive on the occasion.

McAuley said: “Playing at Anfield and playing against Arsenal is the sort of experience and the type of games you want young players to play in. It will be a tough match, but it gives us and the lads a chance to see where they are at. There are players in both teams that if they rise to the occasion can do very well.”

He added: “Havant is a good example. It shows that whatever team is playing at whatever level in a one-off situation away from your normal programme anything can happen. In the first half on Saturday that was shown, although obviously class and the superior physical fitness came through in the end. Our situation is obviously different, and the adrenalin will be running with both teams. But you hope it affects them in a positive way.”

Liverpool go into tonight’s match looking for their first win of 2008 following two draws and a defeat.

Saturday’s Premier Academy League match at Manchester City was called off to give McAuley’s side extra time to prepare for tonight’s match.

But prior to the Christmas break Liverpool had been in fine scoring form with attackers Nathan Eccleston, Marvin Pourie and David Amoo having hit 33 between them so far this season.

McAuley will be looking to that prolific trio and his other attacking players to aid progress.

He said: “We would have liked to have played the match, but it has helped in giving us time to prepare. It also took away the possibility that we might lose one or two players through injury.

“We have been in Saturday and Sunday and things have gone well. The lads are in good spirits and although we are a young side – seven or eight are first years, it will be a great experience for them.

“We have improved as a team over the season and hopefully we can carry on doing that.”

He added: “Arsenal have been fancied to do well in the competition and have put a lot of money into their squad. We are two big clubs with players who aspire to move into the reserves and the first team.

“The Arsenal side I saw against Burnley are a good footballing team and pass the ball well. But we feel we are the same and we have players who we hope can help us progress.”

Following tonight’s Youth Cup clash Liverpool will return to Premier Academy League action on Saturday when they face Huddersfield Town at the Kirkby Academy (kick-off 11am).

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s (from): Bouzanis, Irwin, Kelly, Kennedy, O’Connor, Amoo, Highdale, Adjarevic, Mackay-Steven, Pourie, Eccleston, Collins, Hansen, Kacaniklic, Awang, Parsonage, Scott, Oldfield.