Liverpool’s U23s were held 1-1 by Man United U23s on Tuesday evening, with Harry Wilson scoring the Reds’ goal at Leigh Sports Village.
Man United U23s 1-1 Liverpool U23s
Leigh Sports Village, October 18, 2016
Goals
Wilson 18′
Harrop (pen) 50′
Michael Beale fielded an imposing-looking starting line-up for the showdown with Liverpool’s biggest rivals – a team that included numerous first-team players.
Mamadou Sakho started at centre-back alongside Tiago Ilori, Marko Grujic got a run-out in midfield and in-form Danny Ings once again led the line.
Exciting youngsters Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ovie Ejaria were involved from the start, although fellow prodigy Ben Woodburn had to make do with a place on the substitutes’ bench.
Alexander-Arnold suffered a horrible early fall, but recovered sufficiently enough to continue, while Sakho flew into a hard but fair tackle.
Matthew Willock curled an effort just wide after some slack work by Kevin Stewart, while at the other end, Grujic was somehow denied after good work by Ings down the right.
Wilson gave Liverpool the lead in the 18th minute, seconds after Ings was denied by the post, with the midfielder flicking home Pedro Chirivella‘s goal-bound attempt.
Ilori’s header almost doubled the lead on the half-hour mark, with Sam Johnstone forced into a smart stop, and Alexander-Arnold’s long-range effort also tested the United goalkeeper.
Devonte Redmond hit the crossbar from 25 yards for United and Kamil Grabara made a crucial save from an inswinging free-kick, but it was a first-half that the Reds dominated.
- Starts for Sakho, Grujic and Ings
- Wilson back-heels Liverpool into the lead
- Chirivella concedes second-half penalty
- Reds miss big chances late on
Four minutes into the second-half, Chirivella conceded a penalty after pulling down Scott McTominay, and Josh Harrop converted from the spot.
Stewart fired just wide shortly after, but the second-half had a more low-key feel to it, in comparison to the opening 45 minutes.
Ings just couldn’t get on the end of a tempting Connor Randall cross with 20 minutes remaining, and the 24-year-old was then thwarted by Johnstone when clean-through.
Wilson shot over from just inside the penalty area, Grujic missed a guilt-edged chance with his head and Ings twice came close in stoppage time, but a winning goal just wouldn’t come.
Beale’s side had to settle for a draw in the end, but they were the superior team from start to finish. It was another good run-out for Ings, who looked very sharp, and Alexander-Arnold and Grujic also shone.
Liverpool U23s: Grabara, Alexander-Arnold, Ilori, Sakho, Randall, Stewart, Wilson (Brannagan 82′), Chirivella, Grujic, Ejaria (Woodburn 79′), Ings.
Subs not used: Kelleher, Maguire, Lennon
Man United U23s: Johnstone, Williams, Tuanzebe, Poole, Riley, Redmond, Olosunde (Scott 64′), Willock, McTominay, Harrop, El Fitouri.
Subs not used: Mitchell, Henderson, Kehinde, Tanner
Next Match: Everton – (home, Sunday 23rd October)
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