Youth Cup final preview: 'They never give up, they never stop'

After three wins and three losses from six previous FA Youth Cup final appearances, that balanced record will seesaw one way or the other again when Barry Lewtas’ U18s contest this year’s showpiece occasion on Thursday night.

Having defeated Portsmouth, Accrington Stanley, Wigan Athletic, Bury and Watford along the way, a journey that began in St Helens back in mid-December will culminate with a one-off 90 minutes – as opposed to the two-legged finals of the past – between the young Reds and Manchester City at the latter’s Academy Stadium.

From 1996, when Liverpool got their hands on the trophy for the very first time, through to 2009, the year the club last reached the final, no-one…