Liverpool Under-18s saw their hopes of extending their unbeaten run to five matches end in disappointment after slipping to a 3-1 defeat at home to Man United.
The Reds struggled to keep pace with the creativity and flair of the visitors' attack throughout the contest and although Lauri Dalla Valle grabbed a late consolation they were ultimately punished for a shaky defensive display.
Ahead of the match Academy manager John Owens had described the previous meeting between the two sides as "as pure a game of football as you are likely to see", and once again it proved to be the case as both teams looked to play open, attacking football.
The visitors were first to show and a marvellous dummy from David Petrucci provided Ryan Tunncliffe with a sight of goal, but the midfielder guided his effort well over the top from the edge of the area.
United were in the ascendancy and should have taken the lead on seven minutes but Petrucci's tame header was easily gathered by Dean Bouzanis after Frederico Macheda's left-wing cross had found him unmarked in the penalty area.
With both sides looking to attack at every opportunity it was only matter of time until the deadlock was broken, and it was United who got the opener on 22 minutes courtesy of a sublime dipping effort from Oliver Norwood.
Reds winger Kacaniklic then flashed a fierce strike just wide of the upright as Liverpool looked to hit back immediately.
Hugh McAuley's men always looked a threat in possession of the ball, but were continually exposed by United's invention and they were lucky not find themselves even further behind when Ravel Morrison's angled drive cannoned back off the inside of the post.
In keeping with the pattern of play, it was Liverpool who had the next effort of note when David Amoo struck a snap shot straight at United keeper Conor Devlin after a firm header down from Joe Kennedy.
It was the hosts' best effort of the half and it would prove to be a costly miss too, as the visitors broke forward and doubled their advantage on 40 minutes.
Bouzanis' miss-hit clearance landed straight at the feet of Petrucci, who surged at the last defender before slipping the ball to Macheda to prod an effort beyond the Reds stopper.
The goal seemed to knock the confidence out of Liverpool and the Red Devils could have added a third soon after the interval when Bouzanis dived full stretch to deny Morrison following a mazy run and shot.
It was all United at this point and Macheda wasted another glorious opportunity when he crashed his shot well wide following good approach play down the right flank.
The Reds needed to get a foothold in the game and after Thomas Ince blazed a good chance way over the top, they were given a lifeline when Dalla Valle reacted with typically predatory instinct to reduce the arrears on 65 minutes.
The Finn then escaped the attentions of ex-Red Scott Wooton to race to the right by-line but his cut back was superbly cleared by Tom Thorpe.
As Liverpool pressed for the equaliser they continued to take chances at the back, and on 80 minutes United broke clear and restored their two goal cushion when Morrison rounded Bouzanis and coolly fired the ball into an empty net.
Liverpool U18s: Dean Bouzanis, Michael Scott, Shane O'Connor, Conor Coady, Joe Kennedy, Christopher Buchtmann, David Amoo, Adam Pepper, Lauri Dalla Valle, Thomas Ince (James Ellison 73), Alex Kacaniklic.
Man United U18s: Conor Devlin, Kenny Strickland, Joe Dudgeon, Tom Thorpe, Scott Wooton, Oliver Norwood, Ravel Morrison, Ryan Tunncliffe, Frederico Mecheda, Davide Petrucci, Robbie Brady (Nicky Ajose 73).
The Reds struggled to keep pace with the creativity and flair of the visitors' attack throughout the contest and although Lauri Dalla Valle grabbed a late consolation they were ultimately punished for a shaky defensive display.
Ahead of the match Academy manager John Owens had described the previous meeting between the two sides as "as pure a game of football as you are likely to see", and once again it proved to be the case as both teams looked to play open, attacking football.
The visitors were first to show and a marvellous dummy from David Petrucci provided Ryan Tunncliffe with a sight of goal, but the midfielder guided his effort well over the top from the edge of the area.
United were in the ascendancy and should have taken the lead on seven minutes but Petrucci's tame header was easily gathered by Dean Bouzanis after Frederico Macheda's left-wing cross had found him unmarked in the penalty area.
With both sides looking to attack at every opportunity it was only matter of time until the deadlock was broken, and it was United who got the opener on 22 minutes courtesy of a sublime dipping effort from Oliver Norwood.
Reds winger Kacaniklic then flashed a fierce strike just wide of the upright as Liverpool looked to hit back immediately.
Hugh McAuley's men always looked a threat in possession of the ball, but were continually exposed by United's invention and they were lucky not find themselves even further behind when Ravel Morrison's angled drive cannoned back off the inside of the post.
In keeping with the pattern of play, it was Liverpool who had the next effort of note when David Amoo struck a snap shot straight at United keeper Conor Devlin after a firm header down from Joe Kennedy.
It was the hosts' best effort of the half and it would prove to be a costly miss too, as the visitors broke forward and doubled their advantage on 40 minutes.
Bouzanis' miss-hit clearance landed straight at the feet of Petrucci, who surged at the last defender before slipping the ball to Macheda to prod an effort beyond the Reds stopper.
The goal seemed to knock the confidence out of Liverpool and the Red Devils could have added a third soon after the interval when Bouzanis dived full stretch to deny Morrison following a mazy run and shot.
It was all United at this point and Macheda wasted another glorious opportunity when he crashed his shot well wide following good approach play down the right flank.
The Reds needed to get a foothold in the game and after Thomas Ince blazed a good chance way over the top, they were given a lifeline when Dalla Valle reacted with typically predatory instinct to reduce the arrears on 65 minutes.
The Finn then escaped the attentions of ex-Red Scott Wooton to race to the right by-line but his cut back was superbly cleared by Tom Thorpe.
As Liverpool pressed for the equaliser they continued to take chances at the back, and on 80 minutes United broke clear and restored their two goal cushion when Morrison rounded Bouzanis and coolly fired the ball into an empty net.
Liverpool U18s: Dean Bouzanis, Michael Scott, Shane O'Connor, Conor Coady, Joe Kennedy, Christopher Buchtmann, David Amoo, Adam Pepper, Lauri Dalla Valle, Thomas Ince (James Ellison 73), Alex Kacaniklic.
Man United U18s: Conor Devlin, Kenny Strickland, Joe Dudgeon, Tom Thorpe, Scott Wooton, Oliver Norwood, Ravel Morrison, Ryan Tunncliffe, Frederico Mecheda, Davide Petrucci, Robbie Brady (Nicky Ajose 73).
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