Manchester United u18s travelled to Liverpool on Saturday morning to take on their arch-rivals in the league.
Adam Lawrence’s side looked to bounce back after a disappointing week which saw them knocked out of the Premier League Cup and drop points for the first time in the league against Manchester City last time out.
United started well with a high press that saw Liverpool pinned back in their own half for much of the opening period.
Victor Musa hit the back of the net early on but it was quickly ruled out for offside.
In the 16th minute, Musa converted again and this time the goal stood to give United the lead. Jim Thwaites’ corner was delivered deep to Albert Mills to head down before Musa looped his header over Bailey Hall in the Liverpool goal.
It was one way action throughout the match for the most part and Musa doubled the lead in the 28th minute with another header from Reece Munro’s cross.
Despite the dominance, Liverpool pulled one back just before the break.
A chance for United that saw Munro’s cutback into the box find no-one launched the counter attack for Liverpool. It ended with Josh Sonni-Lambie cutting inside Albert Mills to fire past Cameron Byrne-Hughes.
Thwaites’ set-piece delivery proved a source of constant openings for United. Another corner found the head of Mills, who directed it just wide of the left post to leave the score at 1-2 going into the break.
Liverpool came out brighter in the second half, forcing two early saves from Byrne-Hughes.
But United were soon back on top with Thwaites putting it on the head of Godwill Kukonki in a central area to force a top save from Hall.
Shea Lacey made his return from injury off the bench alongside summer signing James Overy, with the latter making his United debut.
One of United’s top talents, Lacey looked like he hadn’t missed a beat, immediately getting into the thick of the action.
James Scanlon spread the play to Lacey on the right wing to cut inside his marker and curl to the far corner which was tipped wide by the keeper.
Lacey had the beating of his marker again moments later but this time his curling attempt sailed just wide of the post.
The substitute Lacey then played provider with a looping cross to the back post for what looked to be a certain hat-trick for Musa. But it was somehow kept out by Hall in the Liverpool goal.
It was ultimately a bitter day for the young reds as Liverpool drew the match level in the 89th minute. Tyler Martin’s deflected shot found its way past Byrne-Hughes to end the match 2-2.
Dropped points for the second week in a row leave United second in the table, three points behind Manchester City but with a game in hand.
United’s focus turns to the FA Youth Cup though, where the u18s will take on Chelsea in the fifth round on Wednesday.
United: Byrne-Hughes, Munro (c) (Overy 71), Mills, Armer, Kukonki (Plunkett 71), T.Fletcher, Fitzgerald (Devaney 60), Bailey (Lacey 71), Scanlon, Musa, Thwaites
Unused subs: Murdock
Featured image George Wood via Getty Images
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Colm Murphy
A football obsessed Canadian who moved to England to enjoy the beautiful game. Colm has been keen follower of Manchester United’s famed academy since seeing a fresh faced Adnan Januzaj for the club’s u18s and has been writing about football with a focus on youth development for over 10 years.
