McAuley, though, knows his side will have to be at their very best to even get a foothold in the tie against an excellent Arsenal side, who proved why they won the FA Premier Academy League title and reached the final this season.

McAuley said: "It is at Anfield and it is a chance for us to show people what we can do. We didn’t play as well as we can do at Arsenal, but we were playing against a good Arsenal side. Credit to Arsenal, they are a good team who pass the ball very well. On the night we didn’t play as well as we have been especially our big players, who didn’t show their true form of this season. But I couldn’t fault the attitude and the work-rate from all of our boys."If we start well we have individuals in our team who are capable of turning things around and scoring goals, and we have lived by that all season – particularly in the FA Youth Cup.

"But we have to clever because we know Arsenal have good players and can counterattack well. It makes for an interesting game"

Daniel Ayala has a groin problem and Steve Irwin injured his ankle, but Liverpool expect both to be fit to start. But McAuley is contemplating one or two changes.

He said yesterday: "We might change one or two things depending on how training goes this afternoon. There’s the likes of Nathan Eccleston, who could come into consideration. And there are one or two options of changing the midfield around a little bit.

Tonight the Kop, Centenary Lower and Main Stands will be open and admission is £10 for adults, £5 concessions (under-16 and over-65s) and £5 wheelchair and visually impaired.

The match will also be shown live on Setanta Sports 1.

LIVERPOOL YOUTH (from): @Bouzanis, Clair, Kennedy, Ayala, Buchtmann, Amoo, Wisdom, Irwin, Kacanicklic, Eccleston. Ince; Dalla Valle, Robinson, Chamberlain, Roberts, Cooper.