U21s maintain chase with Leicester win

Michael Beale's team took top spot in the division, temporarily at least, as goals from Daniel Cleary and Cameron Brannagan secured a crucial win.

The result, following up the mini-derby victory over Everton, lifted the young Reds above rivals Manchester United, who play later in the day.

Sheyi Ojo converted from 12 yards at Goodison Park on Thursday night but he was searching for goal from at least double that distance shortly before the quarter-hour mark.

The 17-year-old surged forward along the right flank and found himself with freedom to try his luck, thrashing a bouncing, bobbling strike narrowly wide of the far post.

Danny Ward was named on the first-team bench for Saturday's win over Queens Park Rangers and the Welshman served more notice of his shot-stopping ability here.

When the Foxes delivered the ball into the six-yard box and Liverpool failed to clear, Harry Panayiotou blasted a hard shot on the turn that Ward reacted brilliantly to push around the post.

His next stop, on 28 minutes, may have been even better.

Another cross, this time from the left wing, picked out an unmarked Leicester player and Simonas Stankevicius will still be wondering how Ward flung out a hand quickly enough to prevent an opener.

City were in command of this game, with Jak McCourt the next to go close by whipping a low free-kick towards the near post. Wide, but a third warning to Beale's team.

Ryan Kent turned on the turbo engines to run straight through the visiting defence but the referee was unmoved by claims for a penalty as he fell under the challenge of Joe Dodoo.

And the Foxes were ahead within seconds. Again it was a ball into the box causing issues, with Joe Davis climbing above Connor Randall to loop a header past Ward and into the right corner, six minutes before the break.

Liverpool's early efforts to equalise in the second half were thwarted, until a set-piece routine of their own proved Leicester's undoing after 58 minutes.

Alex O'Hanlon's curling free-kick was both menacing to the opposition and inviting to teammates, not least Cleary, who timed his attack perfectly and shaped a strong header into the roof of the net.

Momentum was now with the young Reds and Ojo was central to much of their creation, working goalkeeper Ben Hamer at the near post with one drive and then dragging another off target.

Nevertheless, the turnaround was completed in the 65th minute - courtesy of an excellent finish from the U21s' captain.

Hamer deserted his goalline to punch away a cross but his intervention only reached Brannagan, who took a touch and powered a winner through the crowd from 20 yards out.

Liverpool were by now the authoritative side and the lively Ojo twice threatened to provide a cushion, with the Leicester stopper denying one effort and another travelling wide.

A third wasn't needed, though, and the Reds stay firmly in contention for the Barclays U21 Premier League title with two matches left to play.

Liverpool U21s: Ward, Randall, Hart, Cleary, Maguire, O'Hanlon, Wilson (Whelan), Brannagan, Sinclair (Yesil), Ojo, Kent (Canos). Unused substitutes: Vigouroux, Trickett-Smith.