Liverpool Under-23 boss Neil Critchley is expecting the first-team’s winning mentality to help the club’s youngsters in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at Aston Villa.
The Reds will field a hugely inexperienced team to take on Villa with Jurgen Klopp’s men in Qatar for the Fifa Club World Cup.
Rhian Brewster, 19, will be one of the most experienced players on the pitch at Villa Park, despite playing just two first-team games before, if he recovers in time from an ankle knock.
Liverpool have won 16 of their 17 Premier League games this season, and lead second-placed Leicester by 10 points.
And Critchley wants his young guns to use some of the first-team’s winning mentality.
He said: “We’re very fortunate here that our manager (Klopp) believes in young players and gives them an opportunity.
“You look at the last game against Arsenal (a 5-5 draw which Liverpool won on penalties) and he was very brave in selecting young players, so you are never quite sure (what to expect) until they are given that opportunity.
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“But what I would say is that the mentality that is bred into the first-team players here, seeps into the academy as well, and you can’t help but get influenced by what goes on above you.
“I like to think that our young players, as they showed against Arsenal in the last round, have a similar mentality, or are developing that mentality our first-team players produce on a weekly basis.
“We’ve got to go and give everything we’ve got, be there for each other, from the first whistle. I hope they go and prove to everyone watching tomorrow night what they are capable of.”
Aston Villa are huge favourites to progress to the last-four of the competition.
But Klopp insists Liverpool’s young side have a chance of upsetting the odds.
“I know how a lot of people in the public see it,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website.
“But if all the football games would be decided before we start, only because of the perception of the people, then most of the games wouldn’t be played. I believe, I’m a big believer in everybody has a chance.
“From the boys’ point of view, if I would be in their boots I would be excited like hell, looking forward to it like hell, run for my life, all that stuff.”
