Liverpool Reserves 2 Manchester United Reserves 0.

FIVE top class Premier League players, a tremendous atmosphere and a match of breakneck speed contested by two of the biggest clubs in the world - not bad for £5.

It may only have been a Barclays Premier Reserve League (North) clash but 10,546 - a record crowd for football at The Halliwell Jones Stadium - were present to witness an enthralling game.

League leaders Liverpool gave 90-minute run-outs to experienced internationals Xabi Alonso and Harry Kewell as well as 45 minutes each to senior defenders Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel on their return from injury.

If that was not enough, a Manchester United side coached by Brian McClair and Jim Ryan included a certain Gary Neville - a man with 85 caps for England and making another attempt at a comeback after setbacks during an 11-month injury lay-off.

Every time he touched the ball Neville was jeered by the Liverpool fans but cheered by United supporters, who must have numbered around 3,000 in an almost full South Stand.

Neville, like the four Liverpool stars, came through unscathed before being replaced after 61 minutes by James Chester, who became the first Warringtonian to play football at The Halliwell Jones.

Spanish under 21 international Gerard Pique tripped Krisztian Nemeth to allow Alonso to give Liverpool a 14th-minute lead from the penalty spot.

Skrtel and Jay Spearing hit the bar after the interval but United had Richard Eckersley sent off for a second bookable offence with four minutes remaining and visiting defender Danny Simpson failed to force his header over the line from two yards in the 89th minute.

The ball trickled towards Liverpool keeper Dean Bouzanis, who kept the ball from going over the line by a fraction of an inch, before Kewell streaked clear for a breakaway Liverpool goal seconds later.

The defeat did not entirely spoil the experience for Birchwood boy Chester, though.

The 19-year-old centre back said: "It was good to play in my home town.

"I've been looking forward to it since the start of the season and a really good crowd turned up. I'd read in the Warrington Guardian that they were expecting a lot of people.

"I was a bit gutted that I wasn't starting but they told me I was probably going to go on for Gaz (Neville) in the second half.

"My mum and dad came and a lot of my mates were ringing me in the week about tickets, so they were there too."

Liverpool: Dean Bouzanis; Stephen Darby, Mikel San Jose, Daniel Agger (Martin Skrtel 46mins), Emiliano Insua; Ryan Flynn, Xabi Alonso, Jay Spearing, Damien Plessis, Harry Kewell; Krisztian Nemeth (Jordy Brouwer 83mins). Subs not used: Peter Gulacsi, Gerardo Bruna, Martin Kelly.

Manchester United: Tom Heaton; Gary Neville (James Chester 61mins), Gerard Pique (Federico Macheda 68mins), Richard Eckersley, Danny Simpson; Tom Cleverley, Sam Hewson, Rodrigo Possebon, Sean Evans (Antonio Bryan 73mins); Danny Wellbeck, Chris Eagles. Subs not used: Ron-Robert Zieler, Ritchie Jones.