Beale: Embrace Anfield experience

Thursday's 4-3 defeat at the hands of Chelsea may have dented the young Reds' title hopes, but their coach is keen to end the campaign on a high.

Brendan Rodgers and his staff will be keeping tabs on the final U21s league fixture of 2014-15, and Beale wants his players to showcase their talents.

As it stands, second-placed Liverpool are two points behind league leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.

Chelsea are a point adrift from the Reds with two games in hand - so victory over Norwich is a necessity if Beale's side are to remain in the title race.

The boss is more concerned with his players making the most of the chance to play at Anfield, however.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the lads to play at Anfield as we haven't played there since before Christmas," he told Liverpoolfc.com.

"It's a lovely way to end the league season and we are really looking forward to it. Anfield is where these boys want to play on a regular basis at first-team level in front of more than 40,000.

"They know the senior staff will be watching. There are still a couple of first-team games left, and who knows, a good performance tonight could provide these youngsters with an opportunity.

"They have to catch the eye of the manager at the right time. You never know when your most important game is, and for one or two of our players who are doing well they have got to keep it going because you never know where it leads."

The defeat by Chelsea was tough for the players to take, especially when they had what appeared to be two blatant penalties turned down.

However, Beale admits there were more positives than negatives to take from the clash at Aldershot Town.

He added: "The lads were feeling down after the Chelsea game, but in all honesty our second-half display was probably our best half of the season, and we were really unfortunate.

"We were also on the wrong end of a couple of decisions that ultimately meant Chelsea got the result, but in terms of a development game we were more than equal if not the better team on the night.

"There was disappointment in terms of the boys wanted to keep up our fight for the title but we want to end the season well on Monday, and if we can beat Norwich you never know what could happen.

"Our big thing is development. Jerome Sinclair made his Premier League debut against Chelsea during yesterday's game and that is development, and at the end of the day what we are striving for.

"It's important to put into perspective what the U21 team is for and that's for players to push on to - training at Melwood and then breaking into the first team.

"We are never going to be an U21 team that is solely focused on winning football matches. Winning for us is providing players for our senior team."

Back in December, the Reds drew 1-1 with the Canaries at Carrow Road, and Beale is under no illusions that they will provide a stern test for his charges.

He explained: "They recently changed their coach and they have had a good season. They have played a few games at Carrow Road and have managed to draw in some big crowds.

"We had a fantastic game with them before Christmas and I'm expecting another decent game at Anfield.

"We have had an excellent season, both in development of players and the development of our style of play.

"We want to end the season well and there's no better stage for us than Anfield if we perform well.

"This will be our fourth game in a very short period of time so we are going to have to rotate and give some boys an opportunity.

"Our season doesn't finish after this game. We have two tournaments in Holland where we will pit ourselves against some of the world's best academies.

"We will play against the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, and teams from Brazil and Mexico so it will be a great challenge for the boys.

"We educate our boys that during April and May, when other teams are shutting down, Liverpool FC are trying to win things, so for those final months of the season you have to be at your best.

"Our motto at the Academy is to be strong in these final months and not just look forward to a holiday. You have to keep fighting right until the end of the season."