Fulham frustration for U21s
Liverpool U21s fell to their second successive defeat as they lost 3-2 to Fulham in a five-goal thriller at Motspur Park on Sunday.
Michael Beale's side went into the game without the likes of Jordan Rossiter and Jordan Williams but German U21 striker Samed Yesil was fit to start while Harry Wilson and Ryan Kent provided ammunition down the flanks.
The young Reds started brightly when Daniel Trickett-Smith fired them into a fifth minute lead, but the home side stormed straight back when Tom Richards made it 1-1.
Fulham then turned the game around in the second period when Italy U21 forward Marcello Trotta added two goals to make it 3-1.
Cameron Brannagan then missed a great chance before substitute Jerome Sinclair netted to make it 3-2.
Beale's charges certainly didn't deserve to lose the game and they continued to pour forward in numbers in search of an equaliser.
Sinclair had a late chance in stoppage time but couldn't convert and Fulham held on to take the three points.
Reflecting on the defeat, Beale told Liverpoolfc.com: "We played very well against a very good athletic side and I don't know how we didn't take anything out of the game.
"We created some great chances and the Fulham goalkeeper made some outstanding saves. We could have had three penalties and it wasn't to be.
"There are lots of positives to take. Kent is on fire at the moment, Trickett-Smith has trained really well and scored a great goal today and Dan Cleary did very well on his first start at U21 level.
"Yes, we've got to tighten up and stop conceding goals but overall I have to be pleased with how well the lads played."
Beale's side are back in action next Friday night when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at Langtree Park, St Helens, at 7pm GMT.
Liverpool U21s team: Fulton, Randall, Maguire, Cleary, Jones, Lussey (Pelosi 60), Wilson, Brannagan, Yesil (Sinclair 60), Trickett-Smith (O'Hanlon 75), Kent. Sub not used: Vigouroux.