United on the pitch to tackle homelessness

Manchester and Liverpool put aside their differences to help in the fight to end homelessness and rough sleeping.

Liverpool's Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham each led a team at Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday night.

In an emotional display, the father of Saffie Roussos, the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena bombing, and Hillsborough Campaigner Margaret Aspinall, led the two teams onto the pitch at the start of the match.

Gary Neville and Robbie Fowler were among the familiar faces playing in the match.

Neville said it is an issue close to his and Ryan Giggs' hearts:

"We always walked around the city, always have done, we knew every single homeless person by name. We had 50 people in the Stock Exchange for six months, it's ridiculous that the situation is increasing and growing, there has to be a solution to it.

"It's a Manchester City Centre issue in some ways but they're actually coming from Tameside, Ashton, Bury, Rochdale, it's an issue all of Greater Manchester has to pull together on.

"I'm hoping we'll raise some money tonight, each council's been devastated by cuts, but to also galvanise and bring people together."

While the final score wasn't the point on the night, it was the Liverpool side who triumphed, beating Andy Burnham's XI 3-1.