Rarely has the FA Youth Cup been quite so true to its name as for Liverpool this season.
Injuries and the progression of players to higher age groups has left under-18s coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson with an inexperienced team in recent months.
Throw in the added complication of the U21s playing a prestige match against Paris Saint-Germain at Kirkby on the same night, and the Reds will once again turn to their most fledgling talents when they travel to Port Vale in an FA Youth Cup fourth round tie this evening (kick-off 7pm).