Several members of Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup-winning squad return to the EBB Stadium on Friday night as The Blues host Liverpool in a Barclays Under 18 Premier League Elite Round play-off tie.
Admission is free for all supporters, with the game kicking-off at 7.05pm, as Chelsea aim to go above Manchester City at the top of the Elite Round table.
The game comes just 48 hours after The Blues retained the FA Youth Cup against City, with a comfortable 3-1 second leg victory to earn a 4-2 aggregate win and a third consecutive triumph in the competition. It was also their fifth Youth Cup Final win in the last seven years.
Now Joe Edwards’ team return their focus to the League, with two play-off fixtures remaining after they had topped the Southern section of the Under 18 Premier League. Chelsea lost just twice in their 22 regular season games, where their record of 50 points and 65 goals would have placed them top of a nationwide league table, ahead of Northern section winners Manchester City.
Eight of Chelsea’s FA Youth Cup squad are regulars in the Under 18 Premier League, including flying full-back Trevoh Chalobah and attacking midfielder Mason Mount, both of whom were outstanding in Wednesday’s second leg. The latter had also scored The Blues’ goal in the 1-1 first-leg draw.
Chelsea have scored 14 goals in their five play-off matches, including a 6-2 thrashing of Reading. Neil Critchley’s Liverpool, meanwhile, are currently fourth in the Elite Round table with seven points from six games.
