Recently by Chris Wright

ANFIELD has been marvelling at a fair-haired number nine for the past two seasons, but another continued his emergence lower down the club.

Lauri Dalla Valle has a long way to go before he can call Anfield his home, and any comparisons with Fernando Torres or another Liverpool Youth Cup Michael Owen at this stage of his career would certainly be unfair. But the 17-year-old Finnish forward is getting noticed by the Anfield faithful for more than his striking blond hair.

He added to his goals tally with a double to help Liverpool into the final of the FA Youth Cup last night. He now has 20 in goals this season, seven of those in the run to the Youth Cup final.

LIVERPOOL Youth team took a huge step towards a third FA Youth Cup final appearance in the past four years with a superb 3-0 victory over Birmingham City at St Andrews last night.

Two goals from Lauri Dalla Valle and another from David Amoo leaves Liverpool in a strong position ahead of next Friday's semi-final second leg at Anfield.

Hugh McAuley's side will be confident of completing the job at Anfield to set up a meeting with either Arsenal or Manchester City, with the Gunners leading 2-1 ahead of next Wednesday's return at the Emirates.

FEW clubs know better the highs and lows of two-legged ties than Liverpool.

Usually Liverpool's youngsters have taken their lead from the first team who have triumphed in so many two-legged ties in Europe over the years.

But Hugh McAuley's side face Birmingham City at St Andrews tonight (kick-off 7pm) in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup in the hope of gaining the result which gives them every chance of getting through to another two-legged final with Arsenal or Manchester City.

GOALS from Lauri Dalla Valle and Nathan Eccleston helped Liverpool's under-18s get back to winning ways as the beat Stoke City 2-1 at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday.

Hugh McAuley's side had not won since their FA Youth Cup quarter-final victory over Bolton Wanderers almost six weeks ago.

But Saturday's FA Premier Academy League success helps set them for the first leg of their FA Youth Cup semi-final against Birmingham City at St Andrews next Thursday.

DAVID AMOO'S equaliser completed a fine fightback as Liverpool under-18s came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.