Liverpool’s Youth team will look to take giant strides towards a third FA Youth Cup when they take on Arsenal in tonight’s final first leg.
Current FA Premier League national winners, and widely regarded as the best youth side in the country, the Gunners will provide a stern test for the Reds.
Hugh McAuley’s Anfield outfit have reached this evening’s match at the Emirates Stadium (kick-off 8pm) having beaten Leeds United, Bristol Rovers, Chelsea, Bolton Wanderers and Birmingham City in the semi-final.
Although fully aware of the threat posed by Arsenal, youth boss McAuley is confident his troops can grab a positive result to take back to Anfield for the second leg next Tuesday (7:45pm).
He 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 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 that we beat them in the Youth Cup last year may help us.
“The ultimate aim is to obviously win. 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 the first leg then it can backfire.
“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 we can go down there and get a decent result ready for the game at Anfield.”
If the Reds are to grab a lead to bring back to Merseyside then they will be looking to striking hotshot Lauri Dalla Valle, who has scored seven times in the competition.
However McAuley’s men will be without Swedish midfielder Alex Pepper who picked up an injury in the two legged win over Birmingham City.
McAuley added: “We have played some tricky games, some good games and deserve to be in the final with how they have played. This type of competition is great for the lads.”
Current FA Premier League national winners, and widely regarded as the best youth side in the country, the Gunners will provide a stern test for the Reds.
Hugh McAuley’s Anfield outfit have reached this evening’s match at the Emirates Stadium (kick-off 8pm) having beaten Leeds United, Bristol Rovers, Chelsea, Bolton Wanderers and Birmingham City in the semi-final.
Although fully aware of the threat posed by Arsenal, youth boss McAuley is confident his troops can grab a positive result to take back to Anfield for the second leg next Tuesday (7:45pm).
He 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 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 that we beat them in the Youth Cup last year may help us.
“The ultimate aim is to obviously win. 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 the first leg then it can backfire.
“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 we can go down there and get a decent result ready for the game at Anfield.”
If the Reds are to grab a lead to bring back to Merseyside then they will be looking to striking hotshot Lauri Dalla Valle, who has scored seven times in the competition.
However McAuley’s men will be without Swedish midfielder Alex Pepper who picked up an injury in the two legged win over Birmingham City.
McAuley added: “We have played some tricky games, some good games and deserve to be in the final with how they have played. This type of competition is great for the lads.”
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