U21s match summary: United v Liverpool

There were early opportunities for both sides to open the scoring in M16, although it was Liverpool who went closest in the opening 10 minutes, after Kaide Gordon struck the post with a low attempt that eventually trickled just wide. 

Shortly after, at the other end, United's Charlie McNeill tried his luck with an audacious attempt from a distance akin to how far out Bruno Fernandes was when scoring in the senior meeting between the two clubs last weekend. On this occasion, the Liverpool goalkeeper was not caught out, with Fabian Mrozek scrambling back to tip the ball over the bar.

The first goal arrived in the 23rd minute, with the Merseysiders getting the breakthrough via Trent Kone-Doherty. The Liverpool no.11 made no mistake in placing home the rebound to Jayden Danns's initial goalbound strike, which Elyh Harrison had done well to save.

Our young Reds did have the ball in the net shortly before the interval, but for the offside flag. McNeill was judged to have been caught on the wrong side of the opposition defence, just before turning and picking out the bottom corner with a powerful low shot.

After the break, Travis Binnion's United team were nearest to getting back on terms when Ethan Ennis's ball across the goalmouth looked to cause some panic in the opposition ranks, but it was the visitors who got the game's next goal.

Our defensive unit had done well to repel dangerous efforts from Lewis Koumas and Kaide Gordon in the minutes before the latter increased our deficit, driving to the edge of the penalty area before his left-footed attempt had enough on it to get past Harrison and find the corner.

Danns made it 3-0 in the 77th minute, to the delight of the travelling supporters that had made the journey over the M62, cleverly backheeling the ball in after receiving it inside the penalty area with his back to goal.

United substitute Ethan Williams looked to notch a consolation late on with a pair of strikes that unfortunately delivered no reward. Our no.16 on the night first saw a long-range effort of his deflected into the arms of Mrozek, before he came back to fire over the crossbar as the contest ticked into stoppage time.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Harrison; Bennett, Aljofree (c), Jackson (Scanlon 82); Missin, Baumann (Nolan 65), Oyedele, Curley, Murray; McNeill, Ennis (Williams 65).

Substitutes not used: Wooster, McAllister.

Goals: Kone-Doherty 23, Gordon 65, Danns 77.