Teenager Michael Tonge has rocketed to the top of Gerard Houllier's hit list after grabbing two goals in six minutes to leave Sheffield United just 90 minutes away from the Worthington Cup Final.
The 19-year-old midfielder has been watched several times by Houllier and his scouts and with the transfer window open and Liverpool's season in disarray a £3million bid is on the cards.
Sheffield-born Neil Mellor, whose dad Ian played for city rivals Sheffield Wednesday from 1979-83, had broken the deadlock in the 35th minute before Manchester United reject Tonge oozed class conjuring up two strikes of Premiership quality.
Paddy Kenny had an early taste of the action scooping up a long-range strike from El Hadji Diouf and diving bravely at the feet of England midfielder Steven Gerrard.
But it was United who carved out the first opening, midfielder Michael Brown pumping over a low cross from the right for the wily Wayne Allison to flick the ball onto Carl Asaba who squandered the chance pulling the ball high over the target from 16 yards.
Liverpool broke quickly and should have snatched the lead, a blunder by United letting in Diouf who found Mellor but the youngster pulled his shot wide from ten yards.
The Anfield side escaped minutes later. Former Blades left back, Wayne Quinn, on loan from Newcastle, was a fraction away with a free-kick that was almost deflected in at the far post by Vladimir Smicer.
Liverpool swept ahead in the 35th minute after United conceded a free-kick on the right flank. Danny Murphy's curling cross was met by skipper Sami Hyypia and his miscued strike was met at the far post by Mellor who finished from close range with a fierce header.
Stuart McCall went close with a long-range effort before Liverpool almost snatched a second goal in the 65th minute. The lively Diouf stretched to reach a Murphy corner but his fierce header was palmed away in spectacular fashion by Kenny.
Peter Ndlovu saw his close-range header blocked by Chris Kirkland's knees and veteran striker Allison pulled a difficult chance onto the roof of the netting as United looked for an equaliser.
United were back on level terms 14 minutes from time. McCall picked out Tonge who found the net with a left-foot strike from 15 yards - the ball skimming under Kirkland's legs.
Tonge snatched the winner six minutes later after Quinn's corner was only half-cleared. The United midfielder coolly sidestepped a tackle before drilling the ball into the left-hand corner of the net from the edge of the area.