Reds edged out by Inter
Liverpool's youngsters gave NextGen Series holders Inter Milan a real fright as they were edged out 3-2 in Italy on Wednesday.
Krisztian Adorjan netted twice for Rodolfo Borrell's side and the starlets can take a lot of positives from their display.
There were only four survivors from the U21 team that beat Chelsea 4-1 on Friday night and the majority of the side consisted of players from Steve Cooper's U18 squad.
NextGen Series holders Inter Milan fielded five of the squad that beat Ajax in the final of the competition last season.
Inter started the game strongly and were ahead after 15 minutes when Francesco Forte capitalised on a mistake in the Liverpool defence to fire the home side in front.
Adorjan equalised from the penalty spot after Jerome Sinclair was fouled by Simone Pasa.
However, six minutes before the break Inter restored their advantage when Forte broke free down the left and found Nicolo Belloni who made it 2-1.
Borrell's charges came out fighting in the second half and the youngsters rose to the occasion against a powerful and phyiscal Inter outfit.
Sinclair twice went close, seeing one effort brilliantly kept out by Inter stopper Raffaele Dalla Veldove and was then inches away from converting Jordan Ibe's right-wing cross.
With Liverpool chasing an equaliser there was always the danger of Inter grabbing another goal on the break and they went 3-1 up after 79 minutes when Luca Gerratino drilled home.
The young Reds were not finished, though, and Adorjan curled home a superb late free-kick to make it 3-2.
Borrell's charges might have lost their opening NextGen game but they will take a lot of positives from this - particularly with five Academy players all making their European debut in a red shirt.
You can watch this match delayed in full on LFC TV and LFC TV Online on Wednesday night at 7pm BST.
Liverpool team: Tyrell Belford, Ryan McLaughlin (Kristoffer Peterson 64), Brad Smith, Stephen Sama, Lloyd Jones, Yalany Baio, Jordan Ibe, Craig Roddan, Jerome Sinclair (Sam Gainford 76), Krisztian Adorjan, Marc Pelosi. Subs unused: Niall Heaton, Ryan Fulton, Daniel Trickett-Smith, Joe Maguire, Jordan Lussey.