Fergie backs United youths to progress to final

ALEX FERGUSON has confidently predicted Manchester United will book an FA Youth Cup Final meeting with north-west rivals Liverpool tonight.

United slipped to a 1-0 defeat in front of a phenomenal 38,000 crowd in the first-leg of their semi-final clash with Arsenal last month.

Having been surprised that such a relatively young and physically slender Red Devils side should reach the last four in the first place, Ferguson could be forgiven for being slightly pessimistic about United’s chances of overturning the deficit at Old Trafford.