Manchester United started their Barclay’s Under-21 Premier League campaign with a home defeat against Liverpool at the Salford City Stadium.
Michael Keane, Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj, those that impressed on the first-team pre season tour, were all starters for Manchester United with the first chance coming for goalscoring machine Lingard, a shot fizzed wide in the opening 5-minutes.
Larnell Cole opened the scoring for United in the 7th minute after some good work down the left hand side by Januzaj and Vermijl to pull back for Cole to calmly finish on his second attempt.
It was not long before Liverpool were level as a fantastic run from Ibe found himself with a shooting opportunity in which he finished nicely into the bottom corner past United’s Ben Amos.
Liverpool took the lead at the Salford City Stadium after some bad defending from Michael Keane let Liverpool born player Morgan in to finish in the 18th minute, just one minute later and Borini had his second of the game to make it 3-1 to the visitors; a free-kick which would of normally been saved by young Ben Amos, misjudging a well hit free-kick that fizzed into the centre of the goal.
Some great play between Januzaj and Cole in the 35th minute on the edge of the box with Cole slotting the ball into the path of Jesse Lingard to finish with a nice right-footed shot past Liverpool’s goalkeeper Ward to make it 3-2.
Manchester United manager Warren Joyce and Nicky Butt went down the tunnel at half-time with their side trailing 3-2, 45-minutes which was end to end. Adnan Januzaj and Jesse Lingard really showing their match sharpness in the first period.
Charni Ekangamene didn’t make it out for the second half after struggling with an ankle injury just before the break, he was replaced by Tyler Blackett who slotted in at left back while Marnik Vermijl moving into a holding role in midfield.
A scrappy opening 15-minutes into the second half before United made their second change of the game, Angelo Henriquez, who had a very quiet game indeed, came off for Tom Lawrence.
Adnan Januzaj did well through-out the first 25-minutes of the second half, skillfully creating space and chances for United while constantly being kicked or fouled by Liverpool.
Liverpool went 4-2 up in the 80th-minute against the run of play after a sloppy back pass from substitute Tom Lawrence, letting Borini round Ben Amos to slot home.
Borini’s goal was the death of the match as the play slowed and fans started making their way to the exits, a disapointing home defeat for Manchester United but now they must look ahead to an away trip to West Brom this Friday afternoon, 2pm BST kick-off.
David Moyes and the United coaching staff were present this evening to watch the young reds at the Salford City Stadium, Lingard and Januzaj only helping their cause for a first-team place this season at some point.
FULL TIME: Manchester United 2-4 Liverpool
(Cole 7′, Lingard 35′)
Team: Amos, Varela, Vermijl, Thorpe, M Keane, Ekangamene (Blackett 45′), Cole, Petrucci, Henríquez (Lawrence 58′), Januzaj, Lingard
Unused Subs: Gollini, Rothwell, Grimshaw
8 replies on “Match Report: Manchester United 2-4 Liverpool [Under-21s]”
Liverpool confirming their Academy produce is stronger, more prosperous and finally, more exciting.
[…] The match report for this game can be found here. […]
great match ,scousers rule the salford Mancs YNWA
Great to see Liverpool thrash Man Hoof Yoof in front of the watching gollum, also notice the home “supporters” bailing out on their young hoofers in the 79th minute.
Liverpool were definitely the stronger side at tonights game although I was there to see the Reds. Poor defending was mainly the reason behind our lack of ability to keep the ball and Liverpool had some good shots on target and took possession early in the game some good talent from both sides. Well done to Liverpool.
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