Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor says that Marouane Fellaini was the difference between the Reds' Under-21 side and Manchester United's Under-21 side this evening, as the Red Devils ran out 3-2 winners at Leigh Sports Village.
Manchester United named a strong looking side, including Sergio Romero between the sticks, Andreas Pereira and Marouane Fellaini in midfield and Nick Powell in attack.
And it was Fellaini who fired Manchester United ahead just after the half-hour mark, finding space at the back post to slide the ball into the back of the net from a cross.
As Liverpool pushed to equalise in the second half, Manchester United made it 2-0, Fellaini again involved as he shot at the goalkeeper, who could only turn it out, allowing the former Crewe man to finish from close range in the 79th minute.
But Liverpool were not dead and in the 82nd minute Harry Wilson found Jerome Sinclair in space, the forward making no mistake and turning the ball in at the far post.
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And Liverpool were not finished with just pulling one back, striking again in the 85th minute through Madger Gomes.
Manchester United however would have the last laugh and in the 88th minute a cross found Fellaini in the box. The midfielder held the ball up and laid it off to Sean Goss, who drilled a superb shot into the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area.
It ended 3-2 to Manchester United, a thrilling game, and Mellor insists Fellaini was the difference.
"You have to say he's been the difference. He's assisted two and scored United's other one", Mellor said on LFC TV.
"Tonight Fellaini was the difference. He was involved in all United's attacking play.
"That was the reason United won tonight, Fellaini."
And he added: "Fellaini was involved in all United's goals tonight and that's the difference, a first team player dropping down to this level."
