Manchester United Under-23s have come from behind to defeat Liverpool 2-1 away from home in Friday evening's Premier League 2 match, denying their opponents the chance to return to the top of the table.
Adam Lewis's impressive free kick gave the Reds the lead in the second period, but a solo effort from Joe Riley and Callum Gribbin's late penalty turned the game on its head.
Danny Ward was called into action early on when Zak Dearnley got in behind the home side's defence and went one on one with the Reds' goalkeeper, but the stopper made himself big and absorbed the striker's shot.
Four minutes later, good work from Tahith Chong on the flank lined Dearnley up in front of goal, only for the youngster to miss the target completely.
United dominated the early stages, but Liverpool registered a few shots of their own in the first period, coming close in the first quarter of an hour when Canada youth international Liam Millar squared a pass to Ben Woodburn on the edge of the box, who tested Kieran O'Hara in the away goal.
The Red Devils were back on the attack just after the half-hour mark as Chong carried the ball across field and picked out Tosin Kehinde in a dangerous position, but his teammate missed the target and failed to test Ward.
Liverpool claimed the first shot on target in the second period and it came from long range as Matt Phillips let fly from 30 yards out, stinging the palms of O'Hara between the Red Devils' sticks.
The home side broke the deadlock with almost half an hour gone in the second half, right after Woodburn won a free kick in the danger zone.
Lewis stepped up and curled one over the wall, beyond O'Hara and in off the post to give Liverpool the lead.
Ward produced an impressive double save to prevent United from hitting back immediately, reacting quickly to deny Dearnley from close range and then Ro-Shaun Williams on the rebound.
United were level moments later following a blistering solo run from Riley, who cut inside from the right channel and unleashed a curling strike from the edge of the box, finding the bottom corner.
The Red Devils completed the turnaround in the 84th minute when Josh Bohui was brought down in the box by Niko Williams and the referee pointed to the spot, allowing Gribbin to step up and tuck away the decisive goal from 12 yards, sending Ward the wrong way.
The result means that Liverpool blew the opportunity to return to the summit of Premier League 2 Division 1, while bottom team United are now just two points away from the nearest position of safety.
The two club's senior squads will play each other in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Mark Langshaw
