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Barclays U18 Premier League
J. Davidson Stadium, Altrincham
Friday 5 December*
MANCHESTER UNITED 0
LIVERPOOL 0
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05/12/2014 - ManUtd.com, Nathan Thomas
U18s: United 0 Liverpool 0
Manchester United played out a goalless but entertaining draw with Liverpool in the Barclays Under-18 Premier League on Friday night.
With the historic rivalry between the clubs providing an intriguing sub-plot, both teams were evidently keen to take the spoils, but ultimately had to settle for a point apiece. The first half proved to be a cagey affair with neither side causing the other too many problems. The best chance of the opening exchanges undoubtedly fell to the visitors, but Kristof Polgar fluffed his lines when he prodded wide from close range. Callum Gribbin - fresh from scoring in United Under-18s' last game at Bolton - looked bright for Paul McGuinness' team, but could not find a way past the Liverpool rearguard.
With little to choose between the two outfits, an increase in tempo was required and it was to be the Merseysiders who raised it at the start of the second period. Coming out of the traps in determined fashion, Liverpool went close on two occasions before the 50-minute mark with the impressive Sergi Canos at the heart of both moves. The better of the two chances came when the visitors' no. 7 flashed the ball across the six-yard box following excellent wing play, but nobody was on hand for what would have been a tap-in.
Stung into action by Liverpool’s lively start to the second half, United began to attack with more urgency and created a number of presentable opportunities. The aforementioned Gribbin was first to spurn a great chance as he directed his effort straight at shot-stopper Andy Firth, before Zac Dearnley latched on to an excellent threaded pass by Joe Riley only to be denied by Firth once again. Charlie Scott was next to go close when the effervescent Gribbin threaded the eye of a needle to find him, but the Stoke-born midfielder could only direct his effort wide. Both sides continued to press forward and Liverpool substitute Ovie Ejaria peppered the United goal with a number of efforts, but none were good enough to beat Dean Henderson. The in-form Marcus Rashford could have bagged a late winner but fired his shot off target as a tenacious second half came to an end.
United:*Henderson; Reid, Tuanzebe, Fosu-Mensah, Borthwick-Jackson; Scott, Redmond; Riley, Gribbin, Dearnley (Hamilton, 67), Rashford. Subs not used: Warren, Byrne, Rathbone, Johnson.