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Michael Beale was left to reflect on a “moral victory” after Liverpool Under-23s were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village.

The Academy coach admitted it was a similar story to Monday night’s Premier League stalemate between the arch rivals at Anfield with the Reds’ second-string facing a side set up simply to stifle their threat.

Harry Wilson put Liverpool in front but Josh Harrop equalised from the penalty spot early in the second half. United then held on grimly for a point – just like Jose Mourinho’s men 24 hours earlier.

“I’m frustrated,” Beale told the ECHO.

“They changed their system which paid a lot of respect to us. All the chances in the first half, barring the one they had from long range, fell to us. After going ahead, I expected us to go on and win the game.

“I was disappointed with the goal we conceded early in the second half – that didn’t need to happen.

“But after that we played very well against what was basically the same situation that the first-team faced an Anfield on Monday night.

“United defended in numbers and then when they did have the ball they tended to go long to the big No 9.

“Our two centre-halves had very good games and I thought Pedro Chirivella was the most dominant midfielder on the pitch.

“It was just a matter of whether we could find a winner. There was a big moment with Danny (Ings) when he went one on one with the keeper and we had a couple of headers and half chances too late on. It just wouldn’t go in.”

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Beale revealed that Liverpool had anticipated United’s defensive approach.

“We actually practised against it in training on Monday because we thought it might happen,” he added.

“Any coach will tell you that when you play 10 v 10 in one half the defending team usually wins.

“There was a moral victory. We wanted to attack the whole evening. We wouldn’t have taken a step back even if we had got a couple of goals up. That’s how we approach every game.

“It’s hard to play against teams who sit in with 10 men behind the ball. We see it in the Premier League every week.

“In the end it’s a massive point for them and it feels like two points dropped for us which coming away from home to Man United is a plus in some ways.”