Former Hull winger Paul Anderson shined brightest of all tonight as Liverpool’s Under 18 side dominated Manchester City by three goals to nil to virtually lift the FA Youth Cup. Yes, it’s not over yet, there is still a second leg to come. Essentially we at half time in the final and who on earth could come back from 3-0 down? 
There were several players who showed a lot of promise and four of the team are currently training at Melwood with the first team squad. The two centre backs, Jack Hobbs and Godwin Antwi both showed maturity beyond their years and are deservedly playing week in week out against Premiership opposition in the reserves. Interestingly Hobbs is being played in midfield to get him more comfortable passing and using the ball better. Adam Hammill seems to be a real bundle of tricks but does need to work a bit harder and deliver a bit more consistency. That said anyone who can lob the Cardiff goalkeeper from the half way line is something special! Finally we come to my man-of-the-match, Paul Anderson. Put simply he is ready to play the last few games of the season in the first team. Great pace, wonderful crossing and also a great header of the ball too. In the opening minutes he did a lovely bicycle kick the went wide but then 15 minutes from time he hit a sensational scissor kick that smashed against the crossbar as the keeper flapped some distance from the ball. As it came down to earth it hit the keeper and agonisingly bounced just wide of the goal. I have never seen such a perfectly executed scissor kick and the speed of it made it literally a blur in slow motion. In related news Liverpool desperately need to change their sponsor. Carlsberg have been great but alcohol advertising is banned in several countries (including Norway) and the lucrative Middle East is off limits because of religious laws banning alcohol. Furthermore the youth team had to play without a sponsor on their shirts because they are under 18!
