I wonder what the likes of Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck and David De Gea are thinking right now.
I’m sure they will be excited at the prospect of playing at Anfield on Saturday.
Manchester United fans they meet in the city will be urging them to bury Liverpool on Saturday, the red half of the city will be buzzing as the clock ticks down to English football’s biggest clash.
Much has been made of how young Alex Ferguson’s team is this season and some of the football displayed by United has been breathtaking.
But the clash with Liverpool at Anfield will give us a clue as to how ready the youngsters are to play big-time football.
Kenny Dalglish’s Reds are a much improved team from the last couple of years and they are in confident mood after a Merseyside derby triumph.
In Luis Suarez they have a matchwinner and captain Steven Gerrard is chomping at the bit after a long injury lay-off.
With Anfield ready to rouse their heroes for battle, United must stand tall.
Especially when they will be buffeted by an outpouring of hatred for much of the game.
The atmosphere will be unlike anywhere else, it always is for this match and for that reason alone, Ferguson may choose to protect his young stars and opt for his battle-scarred veterans.
I hope not, because this is the kind of test the youngsters need to pass if they are truly players with special potential.
If the likes of Jones, Anderson, Wellbeck, De Gea, and even Nani and Ashley Young, block out all the fuss from the terraces and concentrate on their football, United could well quieten the majority of Anfield by coming away with a win.
It has been some time since United have won at Anfield.
United’s biggest star Wayne Rooney will know he will be mercilessly harangued by the crowd for his red card last week with England.
If he and the other United youngsters keep their cool, then it could be a truly special day out at Anfield for them.
