Young Reds beaten by Basel turnaround

In unseasonably hot conditions, the Reds made a commanding start to the contest, but found themselves behind with 14 minutes played as Cedric Itten prodded a deep corner home at the back post.

Neil Critchley's side continued to dominate and eventually deservedly drew level on 67 minutes when substitute Harry Wilson delivered from the right to allow Jerome Sinclair to snatch a leveller from close range.

The striker then fired Liverpool ahead moments later, speeding away from the Basel defence on a counter-attack before slotting beyond Andres Zimmermann and into the bottom corner.

However, with just three minutes left to play, Albian Ajeti headed in an equaliser to restore parity before Itten's second at the close secured a dramatic 3-2 victory for the Swiss side.

Liverpool went into the game knowing a win would present a big step towards qualification for the next stage of the tournament following last month's 4-0 demolition of Ludogorets Razgrad.

With just three minutes played, Ryan Kent used his speed to get away from two defenders and into space in the right channel of the area. The winger elected to try to slide the ball across goal and into the far corner, but was just off target.

He was presented with another chance soon after - excellent harrying from Sheyi Ojo and Sinclair resulted in possession breaking for Kent in a good position, but he curled over the crossbar.

Next, a fine run and cross from Ojo just evaded the stretch of Sinclair in the six-yard box as Liverpool looked to capitalise on their early dominance.

However, the youngsters were undone on 14 minutes when Arxhend Cani's deep corner to the back post found Itten, who turned the ball home from close range.

Basel were visibly buoyed, but Liverpool soon regained their grip on the contest - only a sprawling stop from Zimmermann denied Ojo a leveller after a brilliant ball over the top from Alex O'Hanlon had sent him through on goal.

The young custodian then foiled Sinclair's angled drive before pulling off a smart stop to turn away an effort from Sam Hart.

Zimmermann was beaten just after the half-hour mark when Tom Brewitt glanced a header goalwards from a corner, but the ball rebounded off the base of the post and a block by Robin Huser denied Sinclair the opportunity to tap in the loose ball.

For all their dominance, Liverpool could have fallen further behind on 38 minutes as a defensive mix-up presented another opportunity to Itten, but Ryan Fulton was off his line quickly to block the eventual shot.

The 'keeper also did well to deny Ajeti just before half-time when he found himself one-on-one, but the attempted chip was beaten away by the fist of Fulton.

The Reds were unable to exert a similar kind of authority in the opening exchanges of the second period, with the contest much more evenly balanced.

With just over an hour played, the home team should have perhaps made it 2-0 when substitute Neftali Manzambi met Antonio Fischer's centre with a powerful header that he sent over.

But, with the watching Kenny Dalglish shouting encouragement from the spectators section, Liverpool levelled after 67 minutes.

Fresh from being introduced into the action, Wilson created space on the right before delivering an inviting centre that was stabbed home by Sinclair.

The visitors then went ahead five minutes later when they launched a flying counter-attack that resulted in Kent's ball finding Sinclair, who held off the challenge of Huser before driving beyond Zimmermann.

Liverpool were full value for their lead, but as the game edged ever closer to its conclusion, Basel had other ideas.

Ajeti drew them level when he met Fischer's free-kick from the right with a near-post header before Itten netted his second of the contest in the 90th minute to claim all three points for the home side in a result that was harsh on Critchley's boys.

Liverpool U19s: Fulton, Maguire, Hart, Cleary, Brewitt, Rossiter (Chirivella), Ojo (Wilson), Brannagan, Sinclair, O'Hanlon (Phillips), Kent. Unused substitutes: Firth, Canos, Marsh, Whelan.