'Your chance to impress the boss'

The young Reds face Villa in the fourth round of the respected youth tournament on Wednesday night, a match which can be watched exclusively live on LFC TV and LFC TV Online from 6.30pm GMT.

Before Christmas, Neil Critchley's charges narrowly downed Blackpool on penalties in the third round to set up an encounter at the next stage between two acclaimed football academies.

Having watched Smith make a senior debut at Chelsea last month, plus Cameron Brannagan and Jordan Rossiter named among the first-team substitutes, the U18s boss has challenged his players to repeat the feat.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: "It's a massive boost. Not only is the boss there supporting us with Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh, it feels like a one-team environment as we are all together and pulling in the same direction.

"The manager has shown again over Christmas he is willing to give young players that opportunity. For Brad to come on against Chelsea was brilliant.

"This wasn't an end-of-season game, it was Chelsea away with half an hour to go. He had plenty of options on the bench but he decided to put Brad on and I think that speaks volumes.

"It was a massive motivation to all of the players at the Academy when they also see Jordan on the bench, then Cameron was there against Hull City.

"That has to serve as a massive motivation to the players, but it probably also makes them realise that they are not as far away from the first team as they think they are.

"If you had said to Jordan after the Blackpool game that he would be on the first-team bench against Chelsea he wouldn't have believed you, so it shows that at this football club you are maybe not as far away as you think you are at times."

Critchley was keen to acknowledge the need for improvement from the third round when Villa visit Merseyside, but the coach was equally encouraged by the brutal honesty of his charges following the Blackpool clash.

Watch the video here »

"We were disappointed with the performance on the night against Blackpool," he continued. "I know the conditions were not ideal but we expected to do better.

"There was a real honesty about the players after the game and there were no celebrations and only disappointment. We didn't have to say much and it was like we'd been beaten, so I think that will serve us well going into the Aston Villa game.

"The lads learned a massive amount from Blackpool. We got caught up in the occasion, especially in the second half, and I think that will serve as a great experience for them.

"There was a real honesty and reflection on how they had played individually and some were really disappointed with themselves.

"It was quite a crazy night and I can't think of too many occasions of playing in conditions like that, and hopefully we don't get the same in the next game. Fortunately for us the result went in our favour on the night but it could easily have gone the other way.

"We have got to do better than we did against Blackpool and manage the game better, and we've got to play better.

"In the shoot-out it ebbed and flowed and it was nice that our goalkeeper Ryan Crump played a big part in that and got us through to the next round."

The demands of the first team's schedule, including home fixtures against Villa and Everton, mean the Youth Cup match will not be staged at the club's home stadium, Anfield.

Critchley sought to find a positive from the situation, though, insisting that the youngsters can use the decision as extra motivation to ensure they can experience the hallowed turf later in the competition.

He said: "This is the situation we are in with the first team obviously having to take priority.

"We would have liked to have played at Anfield, of course we would, and the manager wanted us to, but if we can progress I'm sure that will happen in the future.

"In a way that serves as an incentive to get past Aston Villa and then play at Anfield.

"St Helens is a nice ground, a nice pitch, and we are looking forward to it. It always helps for players to have experienced playing there and we will have some in our team who have played there for the U21s.

"Having seen the way Villa play and knowing some of the staff there, they like to develop their players from a young age and I'm expecting two similar styles of football on show.

"They are a very good team. Villa have a great record of producing players over the years and they have got a few in their first team at the moment.

"They have got a very stable staff in Tony McAndrew and Ben Petty, who have been with them for a number of years, so they know the player they want to produce. We are expecting a tough night but hopefully one we can come out on top in."

Wednesday's visitors conceded three times in the third round as they overcame Plymouth 4-3 at Villa Park; asked whether the St Helens fixture could be packed with goals, Critchley provided his preference.

He insisted: "I'd settle for a scrappy 1-0, to be honest with you. I think this will be a good cup tie but we want to perform better and show more of our identity as a team, what we are about.

"Our possession, passing and pressing was erratic to say the least against Blackpool and we want to show more control in and out of possession against Villa because if we don't they will punish us."