Title Bid On As Reds Sink United

Adam Morgan continued his hot streak in front of goal as Liverpool U18s clinched an impressive 2-1 win at Manchester United on Monday afternoon.

The Reds' No. 9 struck for the 10th match in succession as he took his tally for the season to 16 in all competitions with a clinical opener.

Tom Lawrence did restore parity for the hosts soon after but an own goal from Alberto Massacci in first-half injury time proved enough to clinch all three points for Rodolfo Borrell's side.

The youngsters went into the contest with a double incentive; to avenge last month's FA Youth Cup exit and close the gap on leaders Everton.

The Toffees had edged further clear at the summit of Academy League Group C with a victory at the weekend and Borrell would have been looking for his side to respond following a 4-2 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest last time out.

The contest got off to a typically cagey start and there were few moments of any real quality until the 15th minute when Morgan turned well 25 yards from goal and fired in a shot that was deflected just wide of the near post.

The chance seemed to give Liverpool the impetus to step up their usual passing game and eight minutes later they stole ahead.

A bright interchange between Michael Ngoo and Krisztian Adorjan ended with the Hungarian rolling a well weighted pass into the path of Morgan and he made no mistake with a cool finish.

The hosts had done very little as an attacking force but on 31 minutes they finally carved out an opening. Paul Pogba did brilliantly to cut the ball back from the left hand byline but JacK Rudge saw his side footer drift inches off target.

If it was a warning then the visitors did not take heed of it and within 60 seconds they were punished.

A ball was fed into the edge of the box for Lawrence. The winger did brilliantly to back spin his flick in behind Stephen Sama and when he reached it ahead of the Reds defender, he showed good composure to toe poke an equalizer under Jamie Stephens.

It looked like being the last of the goal action in the opening 45 minutes but deep into stoppage time Liverpool restored their lead courtesy of a huge slice of fortune.

Adam Hajdu flashed a dangerous right-wing cross into the area where Massacci contrived to bullet a firm header beyond his own 'keeper.

In truth it was no more than the away team deserved and they continued to make the better of the chances following the interval.

First Ngoo and Sterling combined to tee up Morgan but the striker was crowded out just when he looked set to make it three.

Then a typically mazy run from Ngoo ended with a curler that missed the top corner by inches after Charni Ekangamene had forced Jamie Stephens to pull off a superb save following a blockbusting volley.

United had done little to suggest they could find a way back into the contest but almost did just that when substitute William Keane snatched at a gilt-edged chance on the hour mark.

With time running out Liverpool continued to look the more likely but they couldn't add to their margin of victory despite going close via Adorjan's shot off the post.