The presence of European Cup-winning captain Steven Gerrard inspired Liverpool's next generation of players to take a firm hold of the FA Youth Cup with a 3-0 win at Anfield last night.

Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were among a crowd of 12,744 who witnessed first-half goals by 17-year-olds Robbie Threlfall and Ryan Flynn to leave Manchester City with a huge task to salvage the final. Only a very poor performance will stop Anfield's class of 2006 lifting the cup at Eastlands next Friday, after an impressive performance by Steve Heighway's crop of young talents.