Alex: Respect them, but don't show fear

Kick-off in the precursor to the evening's Anfield showdown is 2pm BST at Langtree Park in St Helens - and if you can't be there in person to support the side, you can watch the game live on LFCTV GO, with coverage starting at 1.45pm.

Following a 4-0 win over Ludogorets Razgrad, the U19s suffered a 3-2 reversal against FC Basel in their last outing, and Academy director Inglethorpe believes the side will have to be at their best against last season's semi-finalists, who have won both of their games so far.

"It's a lovely game to be involved in but we have to be very careful that we don't play the badge and recognise there are 11 players wearing white shirts who are also trying to become Real Madrid players," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"We are not playing against Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema or Luka Modric - we are playing against lads who all want the same as our boys, which is to one day play for the first team.

"It's a prestigious game because it's Liverpool against Real Madrid but we've got to be very careful to show the right balance of respect without going into fear. That is the key.

"Real Madrid have a really good reputation for producing players within Spanish football. They play a similar style to the first team and they have obviously got the pick of the best talents in Spain, certainly along with Barcelona.

"They are a very strong youth side and they play football in the right way, so it's up to us to try to out-football them on the day if we are good enough.

"They have talent in every position but you expect that playing against Real Madrid, but we have got talented individuals as well. This is a terrific challenge for us."

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Reflecting on the Reds' start to the Youth League campaign, Inglethorpe insists valuable lessons have been learned from their most recent display, when two late goals saw a 2-1 lead turn into a 3-2 defeat in Basel.

He said: "I thought we were very good against Ludogorets because that was a difficult test for us with it being the first game. We were a bit disjointed against Basel and didn't really give a fair account of ourselves.

"We went 2-1 up and just as we were about to make a substitution to try to shore things up at the back we then had probably the worst experience I've ever had at youth level when we conceded two very late goals and lost the game.

"Jordan Rossiter had picked up a groin injury and Pedro Chirivella, who had come on for Jordan, then turned his ankle after only being on the field two minutes and Ryan Kent picked up a thigh strain so it was like being two men down playing the last 15 minutes.

"We conceded two goals from set-pieces against Basel so it doesn't matter how good you are on the ball, how much possession you have and how many shots you have, because if you then concede two goals from set-pieces it all becomes a little bit meaningless.

"We have to do better in those moments and defend our area better and as coaching staff we have to try to help them with that. It's a collective responsibility and we have to educate them that in games like the UEFA Youth League the small details can make all the difference."