Buchtmann eyes trophy double

Liverpool's German star helped his country to victory in yesterday's final in the Stadion Magdeburg in front of a 24,000-capacity crowd. Now he will hope to do the same for Liverpool in Friday's FA Youth Cup final first leg with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Germany came from behind to win 2-1 in extra-time against Holland.

Playing on the left-hand side of midfield the 17-year-old Buchtmann has been key in Germany's run to glory. He scored against Turkey, had a hand in three goals in the 4-0 rout of England as they won their group and set up the opener in the 2-0 semi-final win over Italy. It was also from his left-wing cross that Germany equalised in yesterday's final just before half-time.

Holland's Luc Castaignos had opened the scoring on seven minutes but from Buchtmann’s ball into the area Kevin Scheidhauer - who is with Bundesliga champions-in-waiting Wolfsburg - saw a header parried out by Dutch keeper Patrick ter Mate but top scorer Lennart Thy, who plays for UEFA Cup finalists Werder Bremen, forced home the rebound for his third of the tournament.

Substitute Floren Trinks fired in a free-kick three minutes from the end of extra time to give Germany victory.

Buchtmann will return in buoyant mood and like his Liverpool team-mates will turn his attention to this Friday's clash with Arsenal.

With preparations for the final ongoing, Liverpool sent an under-16s side to Bolton for their final FA Premier Academy League match of the season on Saturday, but lost 3-0. Coach McAuley used the weekend to continue preparations for the final with his side training at the Kirkby Academy.

In his absence fellow coach Dave Shannon took his U16s to Lancashire and despite a decent display they lost out. The defeat means Liverpool finished fourth in the Group C table, level on points with West Brom, but with an inferior goal difference.

Shannon said: "It wasn't a 3-0 game really. It was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests and we got hit on the counter attack.

"It was level at half-time and we probably had the best chance to score. But we had a corner and they broke and scored. I always say to the lads you are always vulnerable from your own set-pieces if you are not organised if the ball is cleared.

"We tried to get an equaliser and they hit us on the counter attack again. That was a body-blow and it left us vulnerable.

"It is a lesson for the lads to learn where even if you are dominating games you can be caught. But they are young boys and they will learn from it. They are better making those mistakes now and learning from them than at first-team level."