An injury-time goal from Michele Fornasier secured a 1-0 victory for Manchester United over Liverpool in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League.
The United defender struck just as the match at St Helens looked to be petering out as a draw. Liverpool had named a strong line-up including regular first-team players Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom, Jonjo Shelvey and Suso but their task was made harder when Stephen Sama was sent off five minutes into the second half for a second bookable offence.
Both sides had chances to break the deadlock but it was left to Fornasier to volley in the decisive goal in the 94th minute.
The defeat left Liverpool seven points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the Elite Group, having played a match fewer.
Liverpool report | Man Utd report
In the other Elite Group match, Southampton moved up to third in the table by beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0 through goals from Omar Rowe and Jake Sinclair late in each half at Eastleigh.
Southampton report | West Brom report
Aston Villa's hopes of topping Group 1 were hit by a home defeat by Fulham. Omar Altman got Fulham's opener and Cauley Woodrow’s late strike secured Fulham’s first win of the second stage of the competition and meant Everton remained top of the group despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland.
Aston Villa report | Fulham report
Everton had to come from two goals down to draw at at Eppleton CW. Mikael Mandron opened the scoring for the home side on 50 minutes, with Tyias Browning doubling the lead eight minutes later.
Goals from Conor McAleny and Francisco Junior earned Alan Stubbs’s men a point. January signing Kader Mangane played the 90 minutes for Sunderland.
Sunderland report | Everton report
A hat-trick from Luke Williams allowed Middlesbrough to come from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1. Leon Best had given the visiting side the lead at Rockliffe ten minutes into the second half but Williams struck to secure Boro three points.
Middlesbrough report | Blackburn report
In Group 2, Newcastle United twice came from behind to rescue a draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Aaron Wilbraham put the home side ahead but this was cancelled out by Adam Campbell.
Sullay Kaikai restored Palace's lead but the Jamaican Rolando Aarons scored his second Barclays Under-21 Premier League goal to earn a point. Ibra Sekajja missed a first-half penalty for Palace, who got their first point of the second phase.
Crystal Palace report | Newcastle report
Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to move off the bottom of the Elite Group when they take on West Ham United on Tuesday night at AFC Telford United.
Barclays Under-21 Premier League results
Download full fixture list here | For full results click here
Elite Group
Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United (Fornasier)
Southampton (Rowe, Sinclair) 2-0 West Bromwich Albion
Group 1
Aston Villa 0-2 Fulham (Altman, Woodrow)
Middlesbrough (Williams 3) 3-1 Blackburn (Best)
Sunderland (Mandron, Browning) 2-2 Everton (McAleny, Junior)
Group 2
Crystal Palace (Wilbraham, Kaikai) 2-2 Newcastle United (Campbell, Aarons)
Fixture
Tuesday 26 February
Elite Group
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United, 7pm, AFC Telford United.
To view the league tables after the qualificaton stage, click here
You can follow developments on Twitter with the Premier League's account @premierleague or via the hashtag #BU21PL
