Daniel Pacheco scored a superb goal in front of Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool Reserves beat Sunderland 2-1 at the Academy on Tuesday afternoon. Watch highlights now online.
Nikola Saric bagged the other goal on a day when the young Reds played some lovely football as Dalglish, Steve Clarke and Sammy Lee watched from the sidelines.
Liverpool's caretaker boss will also have been delighted to see Jay Spearing come through 90 minutes on his return from a fracture just above his ankle.
The only negative for manager John McMahon was the late dismissal of goalkeeper Martin Hansen for a foul which led to Sunderland getting a consolation strike from the penalty spot.
The result keeps the second string top of their section of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North.
The opening 20 minutes were brought to life by 17-year-old Suso, who showed off his blend of wizardry and composure alongside the returning Spearing in central midfield.
The Spaniard produced a great delivery on 21 minutes which Emmanuel Mendy might have used better.
Tom Ince, back from a loan spell under his dad at Notts County, threatened on 27 minutes with a dainty turn and shot from the edge of the box which slid just wide.
Minutes later Pacheco gained possession before taking his markers one way and then the other. His eventual shot from 20 yards forced a fingertip save from Trevor Carson in the Sunderland goal.
Ince was next up with a well-struck hit which stung the goalkeeper's palms.
Sunderland had to wait 40 minutes for a serious effort on goal when midfielder Adam Reed let fly from distance before watching the ball whizz wide.
Liverpool countered with a cross-field ball from Jack Robinson which was taken well by Ince on the right. The No.7 cut inside and sent a curled effort into Carson's reach.
The breakthrough finally came on 43 minutes after a dinked ball into the box from Saric. Pacheco worked himself into a yard of space to shoot back across goal on his weaker left foot, managing to find the top corner.
The lead was doubled on 50 minutes when Spearing lofted a pass to Pacheco, who cut back to Saric. The former Bosnian refugee - who has missed large chunks of 2010-11 with a broken leg - bent his shot towards the roof of the net before wheeling away in celebration.
Pacheco could have made it 3-0 on 62 minutes following a decent ball from Ince, the Spanish U19 international leading defender Liam Bagnall astray with a superlative touch before shooting against the outside of the post.
Sunderland were gifted a lifeline when Craig Lynch ghosted into the box before falling under the slightest contact from the otherwise excellent John Flanagan. Justice was done, however, when Danish stopper Hansen saved Matthew Fletcher's penalty.
Down at the other end Ince crafted space for a cross before substitute David Amoo headed against the woodwork.
Flanagan was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet with a close-range poke after a mistake from the defender.
The one sour note for Liverpool came on 87 minutes after a mistake from substitute Victor Palsson, prompting Hansen to foul Fletcher in the box. The referee flashed a straight red card and Nathan Wilson sent newly introduced goalie Jamie Stephens the wrong way.
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