LFC Academy 08/09

[Reece]

Liverpool defender Martin Kelly is today celebrating being called into the England Under-19 squad for the first time.
Kelly, who made his Liverpool debut in the Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven in December, is one of several new faces in coach Brian Eastick's squad for next week's friendly fixture with Spain in Bournemouth.

The game takes place on Tuesday night and kicks off at 7pm at the Fitness First Stadium.

[Jayesh87]

1-0

Amoo

[Jayesh87]

Playing Bolton at Anfield in the next round!

[Jayesh87]

OWENS ON CHELSEA AND SCHOLARSHIPS
John Owens 07 February 2009

In this week's Academy diary John Owens reflects on the Youth Cup success against Chelsea and reveals some exciting news about the under-16 squad.



First of all I'd like to congratulate Hughie McAuley and our Youth Cup side for beating Chelsea to book our place in the last eight of the competition on Thursday night.

We started very well and had a good chance early on through Adam Pepper. We then took that on and dominated for large spells. I felt David Amoo did very well, using his pace to get at defenders and cause problems.

We made a lot of chances and got the one goal that mattered from Amoo's header. We've been telling him that when crosses come in from the left he needs to make his way into the area from the right, and it was great to see him do it and grab the winning goal.

It would have been nice to have got the second goal because you feel a little bit better having that cushion - especially when you are on top like we were. You can sometimes dominate throughout and be 1-0 up with three minutes remaining before conceding from a set piece and being forced into extra-time.

It happens at all levels of football, so, I was just pleased to maintain our advantage and win the game 1-0 after 90 minutes.

It wasn't a classic and I still think we can play a lot better than that, but overall I felt we deserved to go through. We will now face Bolton in the quarter-finals on Friday February 27, at Anfield.

It gives the boys another chance to play on the hallowed turf and more experience of performing on the big stage in front of a crowd.

Looking back at the week as a whole, I think the win over Chelsea was the perfect response after last weekend's disappointing 3-2 defeat at Everton.

We played some attractive football at times and could have scored a few more goals. Sadly we undid all that good approach play by conceding from three set pieces.

But it gave us something to work on. If we'd had a fantastic win ahead of the Chelsea match we might not have turned up with the same attitude and appetite. Sometimes you can go into a match on the back of a good win and you don't start so well, so we hoped we would get a reaction and I felt that we did get it on Thursday night.

As for other news, it's the time of year when the boys start to think about what the future holds for them.

We will be sorting out which players we want to retain and which we feel need to go back into local football.

With the under-16s it's a bigger decision because we are deciding whether they are going to be given two-year scholarships.

This year we have been very pleased with our under-16 group and ALL of them have been offered a chance to come here full-time. It will provide a good base for next year's first year, although when you look long-term, the real question is if any of these lads can make their way up into the reserves and finish off with a place in the first-team.

It's nice to have a good team but what we are aiming for is to find one or two diamonds in there that can progress and go further. We will have to wait and see, but for now we should praise every one of them for making the next step.

LFC.TV

[Jayesh87]

YOUTH CUP SIXTH ROUND DATE SET
Paul Hassall 06 February 2009

Liverpool have announced that the FA Youth Cup 6th round tie at home to Bolton Wanderers will take place at Anfield on Friday February 27, 2009, kick-off 7pm.
As in previous seasons ties in the competition must be concluded on the night, with extra time and penalties taking place if necessary.

Admission prices on the night will be £4 for adults and £2 for juveniles aged 16 or under and senior citizens.

LFC.TV

[Jayesh87]

Reds eye Barca wonderkid
Liverpool hoping to beat rivals to Deulofeu

Liverpool are planning a move to lure Barcelona wonderkid Gerard Deulofeu away from Camp Nou to Anfield.

Deulofeu is regarded as one of the best young prospects in European football and scouts from a host of clubs have been tracking his progress.

Chelsea and Arsenal have both been strongly linked with the 14-year-old, but Liverpool are hoping to steal a march on their rivals by bringing him to Merseyside.

Liverpool scout Paco de Gracia has recommended the youngster to Reds boss Rafa Benitez as they look to pull off a similar coup to that which saw Daniel Pacheco make the move from Barcelona to Anfield.

Reports emanating from Spain claim are now ready to firm up their interest in Deulofeu by making an offer for his services.

Sky Sports

[Jayesh87]

YOUNGSTERS CRASH TO HEAVY DEFEAT
Paul Eaton 14 February 2009

Liverpool's youngsters were on the wrong end of a 4-0 thumping by West Bromwich Albion in the Midlands on Saturday afternoon.
Hughie McAuley's men were second best throughout the 90 minutes and conceded two goals in each half to crash to a heavy defeat.

"It's unlike us to be as poor as we were today, but we paid the price for making too many mistakes," McAuley told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"Defensively we gave silly goals away and never really looked a threat at the other end. West Brom were brighter and more up for the game than we were, so full credit to them. It was a bit of a hiding for our lads and we can't say it wasn't deserved.

"There wasn't too much to shout about for us really. Joe Kennedy and Thomas Ince did okay, but really we struggled for any spark.

"We were without Dalle Valle and Ellison through injury and Ecclestone was suspended, so that was three of our players ruled out. But that's what we have a squad for and unfortunately the boys just didn't get going at all in the game.

"We just have to pick ourselves up now and learn from the mistakes we made. We gave away bad goals and that's something we're going to have to look at before our next game with Crewe next weekend."

Liverpool: Hansen, Metcalfe, Kennedy, Wisdom, Buchtmann, Kacaniklic, Cooper (Scott), Pepper, Roberts, Ince, Amoo.

LFC.TV

[Jayesh87]

We got barca'd

SPL deal thrills Liverpool youth
Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Liverpool teenager John Marsden says he is delighted to have signed a professional contract with Scottish Premier League side Celtic.

The 16-year-old has penned a three-year deal with the Glasgow giants.

He told BBC Radio Merseyside: "The deal Celtic offered me was better than any English club could have done.

"You can turn professional at 16 up in Scotland, which is not the case in England as you have to wait until you are 17."

And Marsden, who broke a number of junior goalscoring records on Merseyside, believes moving to Scotland can help his development as a player.

"Because of a lack of money at most Scottish clubs they purchase young lads and bring them through.

"They can't just go and buy a Fernando Torres for £25m."

Marsden, a former trainee at Wigan Athletic, scored 91 goals during his four-and-a-half season spell with the Greater Manchester club.

And after securing his first professional contract he said he is now focused on regaining full fitness following a metatarsal injury and returning to action.

"My target for this season is to get fit and play a few games for the under-19s and hopefully next season you'll see the best of me," said Marsden.

"I was in the process of signing for Celtic when I got injured but they were good enough to still sign me and continue with my rehab up here."

BBC

[Jayesh87]

updated table and stats

Anyone know who passed Irwin the ball for his senond goal?

[Jayesh87]

updated table and stats

Anyone know who passed Irwin the ball for his senond goal?

It was Pepper, thanks for your help

[Jayesh87]

Arsenal YTH v Spurs YTH is live on Setanta Sports 1

Both are potential final opponents if we win our semi.

Wilshire playing for the gunners.

Bostock playing for spurs.

Finished: Spurs 1-3 Arse

Arsenal looked impressive but i think if we both make the final we have a decent chance of turning them over.

[Jayesh87]

YOUNG REDS LOSE AT WOLVES
Steve Hunter 08 March 2009

It was a disappointing day in the Black Country for Liverpool Under-18s as they lost 1-0 at Wolves.
Hughie McAuley started the game with an experimental line up as he gave a chance to several youngsters from the under-16 team.

The likes of top scorer Lauri Dalla Valla, David Amoo and Thomas Ince all started on the bench.

"It was a disappointing day for us and we gave away a very sloppy goal in the second half," McAuley told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"We didn't pass the ball well from my point of view and it was a hard fought game with not much football played.

"We decided to give some of the young lads a chance to see how they would cope at this level. They will be better for this experience."

Liverpool team: Deale Chamberlain, Andre Wisdom, Christopher Buchtmann, Conor Coady, Joe Kennedy, Michael Roberts, Alex Kacaniklic (David Amoo 60), Adam Pepper (Dalla Valle 60), Karl Clare, Nathan Eccleston, Alex Cooper.
Unused subs: Ince, Hakan Duyan.

LFC.TV

[Jayesh87]

U18S DISCOVER CUP OPPONENTS
Steve Hunter 09 March 2009

Liverpool's Academy team will face either Watford or Birmingham City in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup.
Watford beat Ipswich Town 3-2 after extra-time at the weekend to set up their quarter-final tie with the Blues.

Hughie McAuley's team will play the winners in a two legged semi-final tie. No dates have yet been set for this fixture.


LFC.TV

[Jayesh87]

U18S DISCOVER CUP OPPONENTS
Steve Hunter 09 March 2009

Liverpool's Academy team will face either Watford or Birmingham City in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup.
Watford beat Ipswich Town 3-2 after extra-time at the weekend to set up their quarter-final tie with the Blues.

Hughie McAuley's team will play the winners in a two legged semi-final tie. No dates have yet been set for this fixture.


LFC.TV

Birmingham Yth v Watford Yth is on tonight, so we will find out our semi-final opponants and hopefullt get the dates sorted tomorrow.

Man City Yth v Arsenal Yth is the other semi.

Man City Yth are undefeated this season.

[Jayesh87]

U18S DISCOVER YOUTH CUP FATE
Steve Hunter 17 March 2009

Liverpool's Academy team will face Birmingham City in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup after the Blues beat Watford 1-0 on Monday night.
Luke Hubbins scored the only goal of the game four minutes from time to send Birmingham through to their first last four tie in the FA Youth Cup for 24 years.

Hughie McAuley's team will play the Blues in a two legged semi-final tie. No dates have yet been set for this fixture.

LFC.TV