Liverpool u21 0 Man United u21 1 (Feb 25 2013)

Ten man Liverpool suffered a heartbreaking last gasp defeat to Manchester United in the u21 game at St Helens tonight. Stephen Sama's dismissal early in the second half put Alex Inglethorpe's side up against it, but they showed great character to hold out and looked to have done enough to secure a well earned point until United struck deep into stoppage time.

The Reds had named a strong line up that included Shelvey, Sterling, Wisdom and Suso, but there were mixed fortunes for the first team foursome. One notable error aside, Wisdom played well, initially at right back and then at centre half after Sama's dismissal. Shelvey was the best outfield player on the park, he started in midfield, moved to right back for a spell and ended up excelling at left back. Suso and Sterling however both had evenings to forget, and did their chances of a first team recall no good whatsoever.

United carried more of an attacking threat, generally because all of Liverpool's best performers were in defensive roles and the forwards didn't do much. Adam Morgan had a few chances but he failed to take any and he struggled to get into the game.

The game got off to a flying start and both teams had good chances inside the opening ten minutes. United threatened first through triallist Jeffrey Shlupp, but he shot just wide when he should have done better. The Leicester striker then had an equally good chance that was well saved by the feet of Danny Ward.

The Reds hit back as Shelvey's sweeping crossfield ball found Suso who's cross picked out Morgan in the centre, but the striker mistimed his attempted header and the ball went wide off his arm. Minutes later Suso did well to win a throw in, and with Wisdom charging down the wing Suso took a quick one to send him clear. His cross found it's way to Morgan, who steadied himself and then sent a shot crashing against the post. Probably should have hit it first time, although the element of risk would have been high.

With 20 minutes gone there was a bad challenge on Sterling in midfield which the referee completely missed. Coady was quick to let the official know about it, administering a stern warning. He's good at that side of things is Coady, a proper old school captain. The ref was terrible all night it should be said.

Buttner then needed treatment after a thunderous challenge by Shelvey. Hard but fair, but the kind of challenge he's gotten in trouble for. They're great when they come off though, like this one.

Sterling then got in behind the United defence but his attempted cross didn't find Morgan. United immediately went up the other end and Schlupp found himself in on goal again. Once again Ward made a good stop to deny the powerful frontman.

The Reds were struggling to get their passing game going but Shelvey certainly had his range and was pinging passes all over the shop. One great crossfield ball picked out Suso again, he cut inside but hit a very disappointing weak shot. Suso was repeatedly losing possession and got no change out of Buttner at all, he found it very hard going.

Sama was harshly booked after a tussle with Schlupp, then Wisdom booked for virtually nothing. It was a horrendous first half from the referee.

Inglethorpe shuffled his pack to try and get something going in attack, Morgan moved to the left wing and Sterling went to centre forward. It almost paid immediate dividends when Teixera's terrific pass sent Morgan away down the left. He tried to pick out Sterling but the angle just wasn't there and the keeper intercepted.

Honours even at half time then, although United had certainly had the better opportunities and only the brilliance of Ward had kept them out.

Three minutes after the break another brilliant ball from Shelvey sent Wisdom in down the right. He made a good attempt at picking out Morgan in the centre but it was well defended by United.

Sama was then sent off for a reckless tackle in the middle of the park. His first yellow card had been somewhat harsh, but having been booked earlier he needs to not be diving in like this as he made it easy for the referee to send him off.

Inglethorpe had options on the bench to change it, centre half Lloyd Jones would have been an obvious replacement but perhaps with an eye on Thursday's youth cup game the young Welshman was left on the bench and the coach opted to stick with the players already on the field. That meant Wisdom switched to the centre, with Shelvey dropping in at right back. Sterling was used as a lone frontman and Morgan and Suso dropped a little deeper.

With a one man advantage United could smell blood now and pushed for a winner. Januzaj skipped past makeshift left back Roddan but was denied by Ward. Then Cole should have scored after Roddan got caught underneath a cross and the ball landed at the United man's feet. He shot wide with the goal at his mercy, but the Reds were under real pressure now.

Inglethorpe responded by switching Roddan and Shelvey over, a move that certainly helped Roddan, whilst Shelvey was outstanding at left back.

Teixera was then booked for a nothing foul, he had a little tug but the United player flung himself to the floor and the ref couldn't wait to get his card out again.

Ward was called into action yet again after a terrible mistake by Wisdom allowed Schlupp another free run at goal. Andre had tried to bring the ball down on his chest but seemed to take his eye off it and Shlupp ran clear. His powerful shot was superbly saved by the Liverpool keeper, and from the resulting corner Shelvey cleared off the line.

After that Liverpool got a foothold in the game again and were fairly comfortable. The lads even managed to threaten a few times at the other end. Shelvey sent a free-kick into the box, there was a nice take by Teixera, followed by a good turn and a decent shot that was saved by Amos.

Then there was a great chance for Morgan when he was picked out by Teixera in the box. However, he refused to take it with his right foot and instead tried to get back onto his left and the chance was gone. A confident Morgan would have buried that, as well as the one in the first half. He seemed hesitant all night in front of goal.

Shelvey then floated a ball to Suso to lay it off first time to Teixera. The Portguguese youngster gave it straight back to him and Suso was in the clear on the right side of the box. He resisted the temptation to cut back onto his left foot (which would have allowed the defender to get back at him) and took it early with his right foot. Predictably he couldn't keep it down.

For all the decent openings the Reds had carved out, United keeper Ben Amos hadn't really had a save to make, but he was called into desperate action late on when Teixera's well struck shot from 30 yards deflected off Shelvey and seemed destined for the bottom corner until Amos intervened with a great save.

An abysmal pass by Suso in the United half then put us on the back foot and it needed a great last ditch challenge from the excellent Coady to thwart United.

As full time approached the United fans set off a flare and then threw it onto the pitch, the fucking mutants. Even in youth and reserve games their fans can't behave themselves, the only reserve games where there is ever any chanting is when we play United, and the chanting always comes from them and it's usually unpleasant. It's a fucking reserve game you sad, obsessed gobshites.

Just when it looked like Inglethorpe's side had done enough to earn a creditable draw, deep, deep into stoppage time United won it. A high cross wasn't cleared and the ball fell to a United player near the penalty spot, his shot produced another brilliant save from Ward but unfortunately Fornasier's mis-hit follow up effort looped up over Shelvey to win it for United. Heartbreaking stuff, especially for Ward who's heroics eventually counted for nothing.

The loss was just the second of the season for the Reds, but they are in the middle of a real injury crisis and the rest of the season could be a struggle. They have no left backs after season ending injuries to Brad Smith and Marc Pelosi, and Jack Robinson joining Wolves on loan. They have a centre back shortage too, which will be worsened now with Sama's suspension, and they're light up top with Samed Yesil also suffering a season ending injury and Michael Ngoo going to Hearts.

Results may suffer between now and the end of the season but it shouldn't take away from what has been an excellent season for the u21s, who are next in action a week tonight when they travel to the South coast to face Southampton at St Mary's.

Star man is Danny Ward, just ahead of the excellent Shelvey. Honourable mentions to Teixera and Coady too.

Team: Ward; Wisdom, Sama, Coady, Roddan; Adorjan, Teixera, Shelvey; Suso, Morgan, Sterling (Dunn):