HAVING come this far, Liverpool’s Youth team will look to finish in style by lifting the FA Youth Cup for a third time in the past four seasons.
Hugh McAuley’s side take to the field against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium for tonight’s first leg (kick-off 8pm) confident from their performances so far in the competition that they are a match for anyone.
Having beaten Leeds United and Bristol Rovers away, Chelsea and Bolton Wanderers at home, and crushed Birmingham in the two-legged semi-final, Liverpool have looked better the longer they have stayed in the tournament.
But they know this final hurdle will be the toughest of the competition so far against the FA Premier Academy League national winners.
Arsenal are widely regarded as one of the best youth teams in the country, and Liverpool will be keen to make sure they earn a positive result to take back to Anfield for the second leg next Tuesday (KO 7.45pm).
McAuley, who was coach when Liverpool won the first of their three Youth Cups 13 years ago, said: “We are really looking forward to it, especially because it is against Arsenal. It will be good to go to the Emirates. I don’t think any of us have been to the new stadium before.
“They are a good team, with some excellent players – some of them have played in the first team. We have two games to pit our wits against them and hopefully do well. The fact we beat them in the Youth Cup last year may help us.
“The ultimate aim is obviously to win. It is great to reach the final, but we have won in twice in recent years and won in 1996 so it gives us another opportunity to do well in the competition.”
He added: “We must just play our normal game, do what we are good at, and also try and contain Arsenal as best we can. If you are too negative about it (the first leg) it can backfire.
“We have to play them twice and obviously you have to think about it being a two-legged tie and that there is another game at Anfield. But we have to just focus on the first match, play our football and do what has got us this far in the tournament.
“We want a decent result to take back to Anfield. Whatever the score it will affect how many people come along for the second leg. We have to be confident that we can go down there and get a decent result, ready for the game at Anfield.”
Liverpool will be looking to some of their star performers to again produce their best.
Finnish forward Lauri Dalla Valle, who is back from international duty, will be key. The 17-year-old has scored seven times in the Youth Cup and 19 in all competitions.
