Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish goes to Liverpool with his kids today.

McLeish will be without eight senior players through illness or injury for the trip to Anfield, but has faith in the crop of academy products who are receiving their opportunity.

He said: "It is probably the youngest squad I've ever had to work with. At Rangers we dabbled in a lot of free transfers, guys at the end of the careers, to try to augment the squad.

"But we're going to go with the youngsters here. It can make or break players but a lot of them have got so much confidence.

"This is a learning curve for them in all aspects, life as well, in terms of the importance of the situation also.

"But a lot of them will be concentrating and focusing on enhancing their careers, getting into the first team and staying in the first team. They can emerge as men after this. I would definitely back a few of them to do that.

"They have to grow up as quickly as possible in one of the toughest leagues in the world."