Ibe and Skrtel feature as United hold U21s to draw

In a much-improved second-half performance from Michael Beale’s side, Jerome Sinclair opened the scoring in the 50th minute.

Ryan Kent provided the wonderful assist which allowed the striker to display his clinical finishing skills after a rather dull opening period.

However, Warren Joyce’s charges equalised in the 72nd minute through captain James Weir to ensure that the Red Devils returned home with a point.

United lie second in the league rankings but they were well-matched on the night by an experienced Liverpool side at the home of Tranmere Rovers.

Beale was able to field an extremely strong starting XI, with Martin Skrtel making a return to action for the first time since December and going on to play 60 minutes, following a comeback from injury.

Elsewhere, Danny Ward, Steven Caulker, Brad Smith and Jordon Ibe all started for the young Reds, while Sheyi Ojo kept his place in the side after his hat-trick heroics against Middlesborough earlier in the week.

The visitors’ line-up also included players with plenty of first-team experience as Adnan Januzaj, Antonio Valencia and Paddy McNair all featured.

Fresh from the senior sides’ ferocious encounter in the Europa League just a night before, the start to the U21s affair was largely uneventful.

Liverpool were struggling to retain the ball, while United enjoyed long spells of possession without converting it into chances.

Januzaj came closest to breaking the deadlock after 13 minutes of action. The Belgian international took a free-kick that was initially drilled into the wall before firing the rebound onto Ward’s left-hand post and clear.

It took 26 minutes for the Reds to register their first shot as Cameron Brannagan fired over from long range but it was an encouraging sign for the hosts.

Ojo went on a powerful run to beat a number of defenders but sent his side-foot finish just wide - in what was the best opportunity for Liverpool in the first half.

The Reds came flying out of the blocks after the interval, though, and were ahead five minutes into the second half.

Kent - in the No.10 role - played an exquisite ball through to Sinclair and the forward delivered a cool chip over the onrushing goakeeper to put his team 1-0 up.

Liverpool almost doubled their lead just seconds later when Ojo sent in an inviting cross from the right hand side. However, Ibe was unable to get on the end of it and apply a finish.

United were struggling to deal with the pace and intensity of Liverpool’s play. And the momentum stayed with the hosts when Kent tested the ’keeper again with a stinging effort.

Andreas Pereira drilled a shot at the other end which required Ward to be alert to preserve the Reds’ advantage.

Alex O’Hanlon replaced Ibe with 20 minutes to go and the substitute almost gave Liverpool a two-goal cushion with his first contribution. But the midfielder was unable to find the back of net following a neat move.

They were then made to pay for not finding the important second goal when Weir tapped in to level the match as Liverpool failed to clear a cross beforehand.

The visitors almost completed the turnaround but Weir was denied his second goal by the strong hands of Ward, and the hosts were looking for a winner of their own.

O’Hanlon found Ojo from a set-piece but the 18-year-old’s header was stopped with seven minutes left to play, before he went close again in the final minute as the two sides ultimately shared the spoils.

Liverpool U21s: Ward (c), Randall (Whelan 76), Smith, Skrtel (Maguire 60), Caulker, Chirivella, Ibe (O’Hanlon 69), Brannagan, Sinclair, Kent, Ojo.