CITY have warned three-time FA Youth Cup winners Liverpool: We won't be a pushover.

The young Bantams are gearing up for a third-round date against the mighty Reds next month – and academy head Steve Thornber is confident his charges can do themselves justice on the big stage.

Thornber was thrilled at the effort put in to battle past Barnsley at Valley Parade on Tuesday, when they had to play over an hour with ten men.

Now they can gear up for a clash with Liverpool, although it is likely to be staged at Langtree Park in St Helens and not Anfield.

Thornber said: "I can guarantee Liverpool won't have an easy game against us. We'll do our homework and go over there and give it everything.

"It's a great chance for the lads to show the manager what they can do, especially the second years with contract decisions coming up.

"It's a big step from the under-18s up to the first team but occasions like this are a test. I thought they did themselves really proud against Barnsley.

"It shows how far they've come because two years ago we were thinking we were playing Liverpool and then blew it against Histon. We've put that to bed and can now look forward to it."

Joe Brennan's early red card threatened to derail City's hopes and Thornber had no sympathy for the striker.

"It was a stupid sending off, which we're not happy about," he said.

"Apparently he got kicked on the floor, or so he's saying, but you can't get up and raise your hands. The lads pulled him out of the mire and absolutely worked their socks off.

"We've played some big games in front of some decent crowds before. We played Hull and Colchester in the finals last year, so I told the lads to take on that experience they've gained.

"They made mistakes in those games but the likes of Jimmy Pollard and James King were outstanding. And Dylan Mottley-Henry had the beating of his man all evening and got his just rewards with that cross for the second goal.

"But I can't really single anyone out, especially second half when we had ten men. We couldn't press and had to drop deep.

"They tried to throw the kitchen sink at us and put the centre half up front but it was quite comfortable really. The lads kept their shape really well."

Bantams skipper Stephen Darby was in the Liverpool squad that won the FA Youth Cup in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007.

A date for the Liverpool v City game has yet to be confirmed but it has to be played by December 20.