Ben Woodburn has been named in Steven Gerrard‘s starting lineup for Liverpool’s UEFA Youth League last-16 clash with Man United this afternoon.
The young Reds look to seal progress to the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite youth tournament with victory over their bitter rivals on Wednesday.
Having topped a group that included Spartak Moscow, Sevilla and Maribor, winning five times and losing just once, Gerrard’s side head to Prenton Park confident of a result.
And Gerrard was given a major boost in preparing for the tie, with Jurgen Klopp clearing Woodburn to take part despite training on a full-time basis with the first team.
The 18-year-old makes just his third outing of 2018 in all age groups, as part of a strong U19s selection.
Kamil Grabara starts in goal, after returning from his stint with the senior squad at last week’s training camp in Marbella, making his seventh consecutive start in the UEFA Youth League.
The Pole will marshal a back line of Neco Williams, Conor Masterson, George Johnston and Adam Lewis, with Gerrard deviating from his regular 3-4-3 system.
In midfield, Woodburn will be joined by Herbie Kane and Elijah Dixon-Bonner, with the Welshman wearing the captain’s armband.
And alongside Curtis Jones in attack are Bobby Adekanye and Liam Millar, looking to continue some fine form in front of goal from the group stage, when the U19s scored 18 times in six games.
Following a host of departures from the U23s setup in January, Gerrard has called upon some of his more youthful faces for his substitutes’ bench.
Tom Clayton, Morgan Boyes and Yasser Larouci will be among those hoping for a cameo role against United.
Meanwhile, Nicky Butt has included U17 World Cup winner Angel Gomes in his United lineup, along with highly rated Curacao winger Tahith Chong.
Liverpool U19s: Grabara; N. Williams, Masterson, Johnston, Lewis; Kane, Dixon-Bonner, Woodburn; Jones, Adekanye, Millar
Substitutes: Jaros, R. Williams, Clayton, Boyes, Larouci, Camacho, McAuley
Man United: Fojticek; Warren, R. Williams, O’Connor, Laird; Garner, Hamilton; Chong, Gomes, Barlow; Bohui
Substitutes: Kovar, Ercolani, Tanner, B. Williams, Boonen, Burkart, Mellor
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