Liverpool Tonge lashed by Blades

Sheffield Utd 2 Liverpool 1

Liverpool-target Michael Tonge upstaged Neil Mellor to leave Sheffield United on the brink of the Worthington Cup final.

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has been a long-time admirer of 19-year-old and it was easy to see why with Tonge scoring a stunning late second-half brace as United came from behind to snatch the first leg advantage of this semi final.

That was after Mellor, whose father Ian once played for Wednesday, scored his first goal for Liverpool with a 35th-minute close-range header.

Mellor was given a rousing reception by the Liverpool fans when he was replaced by Owen in the 70th minute prior to two chances for United which they were almost left to rue.

Kirkland first saved superbly from Ndlovu before Allison then finally got the better of Hyypia in latching onto a ball over the top, but in lofting his right-foot effort over the advancing Kirkland, it landed on top of the net.

Then moments later Tonge turned the match on its head. United were back on level terms when McCall’s threaded through ball picked out Tonge, who nutmegged Kirkland with a left-foot drive from 15 yards.

And eight minutes from time Tonge gave United the lead with a sweet right-foot drive from 19 yards which gave Kirkland no chance.