'Our side won't back down against anyone'
Michael Beale expects his Liverpool U21s to deliver the sort of attacking display that fans on the Kop have become accustomed to when his players walk out onto the Anfield turf on Thursday.
Beale was in conversation with Liverpoolfc.com at the Academy this week ahead of another priceless chance for the club's young stars to perform in L4 against Southampton at 7pm BST - a game in which you can show your support.
The U21s boss reports that his starlets have been working that little bit more rigorously over the last week, splitting their time between precious training at Melwood and the hard grind at Kirkby - with one eye fixed firmly on the prospect of playing on the hallowed turf.
A handful of the youngsters have already enjoyed working alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Mario Balotelli under the watchful eye of Brendan Rodgers in West Derby over the last week, while a large segment of the Reds' first team has been on international duty.
Beale insists another special experience looms large for his squad on Thursday - and he has challenged the youngsters who are handed a role at Anfield to seize the opportunity to impress on what will be a night for the entire Academy to savour.
"It's fantastic for us to play at Anfield," said Beale, who was appointed to his current role as U21s boss in August this year. "It's always special.
"There'll be more Academy staff in the dressing room and around the team for the Anfield games because we are one big family at the Academy. It's great for the players to play there as it's what they dream about doing. The week building up to the game, you can see it in training. They're hustling for a position in the team.
"I think we have a lot of good, attacking players here. We've got a lot of players in and around the squad who have maybe not had their chance so far. So on Thursday, if they get their chance, it's a fantastic opportunity for them to show that they can play.
"We want to attack every single team; we're not going to take a step back against anybody. That's kept us in good stead previously and hopefully it will do so going forward also.
"So many other little things go on around the game. We have two of our U16 players in the dressing room, helping out and taking part preparing the kit and getting involved in the warm-up. Then we have the U6 lads go out on the pitch at half-time and come into the dressing room and meet the players."
