Premier League 2
Manchester United vs. Liverpool
Venue: Leigh Sports Village
Date: Tuesday, 18 October 2016
Kick-off: 19:00 BST
Manchester United came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Liverpool at Reserve team level, less than 24 hours after the first’s teams also shared the spoils.
Liverpool captain Harry Wilson opened the scoring early on, with Josh Harrop’s penalty cancelled that at after the restart.
This was a fair result which had a similar to pattern to last night’s billing, with the contest being played in good spirits and a mutual respect despite the rivalry.
Just lacking that cutting edge up front with no recognised striker, Matty Willock curled wide before Devonte Redmond placed an effort toward the same direction five minutes later.
It was a good move from the visitors that led to Danny Ings’ header striking the post, with Connor Randall’s rebound blocked, as Pedro Chirivella’s follow-up cutely flicked in by Wilson inside the area.
Chirivella almost turned provider again, as his deep free-kick saw Tiago Ilori’s header pawed away by Sam Johnstone, before the latter diverted clear Trent Alexander-Arnold’s distant shot in a later move.
In an attempt to level proceedings, Harrop’s shot was held from Willock’s set, as Redmond rattled the bar with half-time arriving on a rain-soaked evening.
Almost immediately after the break, Scott McTominay’s mazy run forced Chirivella to clip his heels, with Harrop dispatching the spot-kick in style, finding the bottom left-hand corner.
Despite the equaliser, United failed to build on this, with Kevin Stewart’s shot falling just wide at the other end.
Further chances saw Johnstone deny Ings one-on-one before Wilson volleyed over after an awkward bounce.
Marko Grujic misjudged his header which fell wide late on, before Johnstone denied two Ings headers as full-time arrived with the scoreline level.
A fair result, with a respectable point on show from United’s perspective, after three weeks without a fixture and bouncing back from the defeat at Everton.
Liverpool were on a run of four straight wins also, so Warren Joyce should be pleased at the fightback.
Up next is the north London double with Arsenal the visitors next Monday at 7pm, before a trip to take on Tottenham Hotspur a week on Friday.
Line-ups:
Manchester United Reserves: Johnstone; Williams, Tuanzebe, Poole, Riley; Redmond; Olosunde (Scott 64), McTominay, Harrop, El Fitouri; Willock.
Subs not used: Mitchell, Henderson, Kehinde, Tanner.
Manager: Warren Joyce
Liverpool Reserves: Grabara; Alexander-Arnold, Ilori, Sakho, Randall; Stewart, Chirivella; Wilson (Brannagan 82), Grujic, Ejaria (Woodburn 79); Ings.
Subs not used: Maguire, Kelleher, Lennon.
Manager: Michael Beale