Anfield has been marvelling at a fair-haired number nine for the past two seasons, but another continued his emergence lower down the club.
Lauri Dalla Valle has a long way to go before he can call Anfield his home, and any comparisons with Fernando Torres or another Liverpool Youth Cup Michael Owen at this stage of his career would certainly be unfair. But the 17-year-old Finnish forward is getting noticed by the Anfield faithful for more than his striking blond hair.
He added to his goals tally with a double to help Liverpool into the final of the FA Youth Cup last night. He now has 20 in goals this season, seven of those in the run to the Youth Cup final.
Ably assisted by David Amoo, Tom Ince and Alex Kacaniklic, Dalla Valle spearheaded the Liverpool attack and scored from two clinical strikes as Hugh McAuleys side booked their place in the clubs third final in the past four seasons with a routine 3-1 victory over Birmingham to complete a 6-1 aggregate success.
They will now face Arsenal in another two-legged tie with first leg at the Emirates. It will be a tough challenge as the Gunners defeated Manchester City who are on course to win the North West section of the FA Premier Academy League again 6-2 on aggregate in the other semi-final.
But as if often the case in the Youth Cup, McAuleys side have grown into the competition. With their attacking ability and defensive strength they will feel they are capable of becoming the fourth crop of the clubs youngsters to lift the prestigious trophy next month.
Despite holding a three-goal advantage from the first leg Liverpool started on the offensive, trying to put the tie completely beyond the visitors early on. Ince saw one effort saved, while Steve Irwins wicked cross from the right was cleared and Andre Wisdom fired over from the edge of the area inside the first five minutes.
Soon after Amoos cross was headed back across goal by Kacaniklic, but Birmingham keeper Dean Lyness punched clear as Dalla Valle tried to apply the finishing touch.
Right-winger Amoo, as he had done in the first leg, was causing plenty of problems and from another cross Dalla Valle hooked over on 10 minutes.
Seven minutes Finnish striker Dalla Valle showed his predatory skills as he fired Liverpool into the lead on the night. From his cross Adam Pepper saw his shot palmed away by Lyness. And although Dalla Valle initially missed his kick on the follow-up he kept his composure to slot home from six yards.
Birmingham had hardly been seen as an attacking force but they almost levelled after 23 minutes. Liverpool captain Joe Kennedy had to hook off the line following hesitancy in the home defence after keeper Dean Bouzanis had dropped a cross under pressure.
Five minutes later Amoos fine run saw him play in Ince, who in turn set up Dalla Valle, but his effort was smothered by Lyness.
Amoo and Dalla Valle in particular never gave the visitors defence a minutes peace and the two combined soon after, as the Finnish forward looped a header from the right-wingers cross onto the top of the Kop goal.
As half-time approached Birmingham drew level with a stunning strike. Captain Ashley Sammons was allowed to run from the centre circle before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner from 30 yards to give the visitors a slim hope of a comeback.
But seven minutes after the restart that was gone as Liverpool regained their lead with a lightning-fast break. A superb cross-field ball by German full-back Christopher Buchtmann found Ince, who advanced towards the box to slip in Kacaniklic, and despite keeper Lyness getting a hand to the Swedish wingers shot it looped into the net.
On 58 minutes Dalla Valle grabbed his second of the night. Latching onto a long ball out of defence from Spaniard Daniel Ayala he ran from the half-way line before slipping the ball home under Lyness.
Ince went close twice soon after. First he fired on the volley after a good interchange of passing between Buchtmann and Kacaniklic, then Lyness superbly saved another shot.
Subsititute Alex Cooper almost put the seal on a fine evening for Liverpool with three minutes left, but his shot on the turn clipped the outside of the post.
Dalla Valle, who came to the sidelines complaining of a thigh problem, had to be replaced with 12 minutes left by Karl Clair. Liverpool are hopeful the injury is not too serious and that their chief supply of goals is able to take his place in the final against Arsenal.
Midfielder Pepper also limped off with a groin problem and faces a race against time to be fit for the first leg of the final which is provisionally scheduled for Friday, May 22 at the Emirates with the Anfield return expected to be on the following Tuesday.
Lauri Dalla Valle has a long way to go before he can call Anfield his home, and any comparisons with Fernando Torres or another Liverpool Youth Cup Michael Owen at this stage of his career would certainly be unfair. But the 17-year-old Finnish forward is getting noticed by the Anfield faithful for more than his striking blond hair.
He added to his goals tally with a double to help Liverpool into the final of the FA Youth Cup last night. He now has 20 in goals this season, seven of those in the run to the Youth Cup final.
Ably assisted by David Amoo, Tom Ince and Alex Kacaniklic, Dalla Valle spearheaded the Liverpool attack and scored from two clinical strikes as Hugh McAuleys side booked their place in the clubs third final in the past four seasons with a routine 3-1 victory over Birmingham to complete a 6-1 aggregate success.
They will now face Arsenal in another two-legged tie with first leg at the Emirates. It will be a tough challenge as the Gunners defeated Manchester City who are on course to win the North West section of the FA Premier Academy League again 6-2 on aggregate in the other semi-final.
But as if often the case in the Youth Cup, McAuleys side have grown into the competition. With their attacking ability and defensive strength they will feel they are capable of becoming the fourth crop of the clubs youngsters to lift the prestigious trophy next month.
Despite holding a three-goal advantage from the first leg Liverpool started on the offensive, trying to put the tie completely beyond the visitors early on. Ince saw one effort saved, while Steve Irwins wicked cross from the right was cleared and Andre Wisdom fired over from the edge of the area inside the first five minutes.
Soon after Amoos cross was headed back across goal by Kacaniklic, but Birmingham keeper Dean Lyness punched clear as Dalla Valle tried to apply the finishing touch.
Right-winger Amoo, as he had done in the first leg, was causing plenty of problems and from another cross Dalla Valle hooked over on 10 minutes.
Seven minutes Finnish striker Dalla Valle showed his predatory skills as he fired Liverpool into the lead on the night. From his cross Adam Pepper saw his shot palmed away by Lyness. And although Dalla Valle initially missed his kick on the follow-up he kept his composure to slot home from six yards.
Birmingham had hardly been seen as an attacking force but they almost levelled after 23 minutes. Liverpool captain Joe Kennedy had to hook off the line following hesitancy in the home defence after keeper Dean Bouzanis had dropped a cross under pressure.
Five minutes later Amoos fine run saw him play in Ince, who in turn set up Dalla Valle, but his effort was smothered by Lyness.
Amoo and Dalla Valle in particular never gave the visitors defence a minutes peace and the two combined soon after, as the Finnish forward looped a header from the right-wingers cross onto the top of the Kop goal.
As half-time approached Birmingham drew level with a stunning strike. Captain Ashley Sammons was allowed to run from the centre circle before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner from 30 yards to give the visitors a slim hope of a comeback.
But seven minutes after the restart that was gone as Liverpool regained their lead with a lightning-fast break. A superb cross-field ball by German full-back Christopher Buchtmann found Ince, who advanced towards the box to slip in Kacaniklic, and despite keeper Lyness getting a hand to the Swedish wingers shot it looped into the net.
On 58 minutes Dalla Valle grabbed his second of the night. Latching onto a long ball out of defence from Spaniard Daniel Ayala he ran from the half-way line before slipping the ball home under Lyness.
Ince went close twice soon after. First he fired on the volley after a good interchange of passing between Buchtmann and Kacaniklic, then Lyness superbly saved another shot.
Subsititute Alex Cooper almost put the seal on a fine evening for Liverpool with three minutes left, but his shot on the turn clipped the outside of the post.
Dalla Valle, who came to the sidelines complaining of a thigh problem, had to be replaced with 12 minutes left by Karl Clair. Liverpool are hopeful the injury is not too serious and that their chief supply of goals is able to take his place in the final against Arsenal.
Midfielder Pepper also limped off with a groin problem and faces a race against time to be fit for the first leg of the final which is provisionally scheduled for Friday, May 22 at the Emirates with the Anfield return expected to be on the following Tuesday.
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