Liverpool boss knows what his team need to do.
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The FA Youth Cup, sponsored by E.ON
The Final, Second Leg
7.45pm, Tuesday 26 May 2009
Anfield, Liverpool FC
Liverpool host the second leg of The FA Youth Cup Final on Tuesday night and despite a 4-1 aggregate scoreline in favour of visitors Arsenal, Reds boss Hugh McAuley feels there is plenty to play for.
Goals from Gilles Sunu, Jack Wilshere, Sanchez Watt and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas at the Emirates last Friday put the Gunners in control, but a first half strike from Liverpool’s Swedish winger Alex Kacaniklic could yet prove crucial.
"We do have individuals in our team who on the night are capable of turning things around and scoring goals, and we have lived by that all season – particularly in The FA Youth Cup,” said McAuley ahead of Tuesday’s clash.
"We have to hold on to that on Tuesday and believe we can get a good start and upset Arsenal a little bit to give ourselves a chance of making a game of it.
“If we get a quick goal, it’s game on again and although it’s a 4-1 scoreline it’s a never-say-die situation and it gives us the opportunity to start the game well and who knows?"
McAuley knows that his team will have to show more creativity than they did at the Emirates, but with players such as Kacaniklic, David Amoo, Thomas Ince and Laurie Dalla Valle there is always the likelihood of them scoring a goal.
"We have to hope our forwards and midfield players can give us that little bit extra on the night and exploit space and get in behind the Arsenal defence,” he added.
“We need to do a little bit more to create chances. I thought we did that in the first half at the Emirates but we lost the impetus and lost our pattern in the second half.
"Credit to Arsenal, they are a good team who pass the ball very well but I thought we lost our shape and discipline a little bit in the second half and left them too much space and gaps to exploit, and they have got some excellent players in their team.”