Murphy on the mark in United draw

Murphy hit dramatic winning goals in two consecutive seasons at Old Trafford, and he found the net once again in the less glamorous surroundings of Altrincham FC's Moss Lane.

The 26-year-old former Crewe schemer converted a second-half penalty won by the trickery of the impressive Milan Baros to cancel out David Bellion's opener for the hosts.

While both Murphy and fit-again Baros made clear their desire to regain a place in Gerard Houllier's first-team plans, Senegalese pair El-Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao again displayed the lacklustre form that sees both favourite for an Anfield exit this summer.

Manchester United Reserves: Heaton, Lynch, Lawrence, Djemba-Djemba, Brown (Poole 67), Pugh, Solskjaer (Cooper 62), Jones, Bellion, Heath, Richardson.

Liverpool Reserves: Luzi, Vaughan, Traore, Medjani, Biscan, Diao, Potter, Murphy, Baros, Diouf, Foley-Sheridan. Subs: Wright, Willis, Smyth, Gillespie, Flynn.