It was surprisingly mild at the Kirkby training complex when the teams lined up for kick-off, with Liverpool in their distinctive all-red kit and United wearing the blue third strip.



Needless to say that both teams were all set for this contest. After all, this is Liverpool against Manchester United and it was clear to see from the outset that this was going to be a typically hard-fought game with no quarter given or expected.



There was little in the way of real chances until the 13th minute when Largie Ramazani unleashed a blistering shot that would surely have found the top corner of the Liverpool net but for goalkeeper Vitezslav Joros’s fine save.



That was a sign of things to come for over the next half-hour or so it was both goalkeepers who took centre stage. James Thompson made a string of great saves to deny Liverpool skipper Glatzel and stopper Joros was equally hard to beat, as Anthony Elanga found in the 34th minute.



Openings were certainly being made, but three minutes before half time it was the home team made the breakthrough when Glatzel was fouled inside the box by United defender Mengi. Referee Jonathan Maskery awarded the penaty and Glatzel’s well-struck shot was blocked by Thompson, but the penalty-taker followed up to slide the ball into the net on the rebound.