Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
(Tottenham win 4-2 on penalties)
The FA Youth Cup, Fourth Round
Anfield, Liverpool
19 January 2005

There is something about Liverpool that suits Tottenham and England Under-19s star Phil Ifil.

He made his Premiership debut against The Merseyside club on the opening day of the season and on Wednesday night captained Spurs to an FA Youth Cup win at Anfield, the visitors winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

"I was very proud of the lads, it was a hard game they were knackered in extra-time," smiled Ifil, showing true leadership qualities at the age of 18.

"I have played with the lads from the youth team since I was 10-years-old. I've been pushing onto the reserves and the first team but it was good to come back down and play with my friends.

"I had the responsibility of showing everyone why I have played in the first-team. There were a few injuries at the start of the season which gave me a chance, now I am in the reserves trying to get into the first team. If they want me to also come back down to youth level and lead the team, it is a pleasure."

Tottenham take their youth policy seriously and it was no surprise to see Director of Football Frank Arnesen and coach Chris Hughton in the crowd having made the journey from London.

They saw Spurs level through Andy Barcham after an early strike by Karl Noon for Liverpool and Ifil was always cajoling his team from right-back.

Ifil, whose England age group includes rising stars Richard Chaplow, Ryan Jarvis and Tom Huddlestone, grew up in QPR territory of Willesden Green in north-west London but started training with Spurs before he became a teenager.

"My main job is to defend but I enjoy going forward. I do weights at the gym so I can get stronger to deal with the Premiership.

"You never stop improving, whether it be heading, left foot or whatever."

Sol Campbell (pictured left, in 1993) and Ledley King have graduated from the Spurs youth ranks to play for the full England side.

And King is also a major influence on Ifil, particularly dealing with the ups and downs you get in the game.

"I look up to Ledley and ask him questions from time to time," says his protege.

"It can be mentally tough going from one team to another. Ledley had to do the same thing himself and can give me a good advice about it.

"People can see it as a downer if they go down a level, from reserves to youth for example. But I don't see it like that, The FA Youth Cup is a big prize and we are getting further into the tournament now."

Spurs will host Everton in the Fifth Round thanks to their goalkeeper Tommy Forecast. Spurs looked the better side at Anfield but Forecast had to make a brilliant reflex save in the 90th minute to take the match into extra-time.

And when that failed to produce any further goals, he saved twice in the penalty shoot-out which Spurs won 4-2.

Phil Ifil has been named in the England U17 squad to play in the Algarve Tournament later this month. For all the best coverage of the Tournament, log-on to TheFA.com