Liverpool’s youngsters have done the club proud for the second year in a row by once again lifting the FA Youth Cup. Congratulations to each of them, and of course to outgoing Academy director Steve Heighway.
Liverpool had lost the first leg 2-1 at Anfield and were being written off going into the second leg at Old Trafford. But the spirit of Liverpool’s youngsters is much like that of the first team – never say die. Away goals aren’t part of the rules in the Youth Cup, and when Robbie Threlfall scored what turned out to be the only goal in open play after 55 minutes Liverpool were level on aggregate. The game went to extra time and then penalties, Liverpool winning the shoot-out 4-3.
Threlfall couldn’t have picked a better way to banish the memories of his own goal in the first leg, and he scored one of the penalties too.
Almost 25,000 turned out to see the game, including George Gillet Jr. The Reds’ new co-owner will have been delighted with the result.
Liverpool collected the trophy for the third time in their history. Last season they beat United’s neighbours Manchester City in the final. The first time the club collected the trophy was in 1996, when Jamie Carragher picked up a winner’s medal.
Once again, congratulations to all involved in the success in any way.