Ben Doak marked his return to Glasgow with an outstanding individual goal to earn Liverpool victory in a UEFA Youth League thriller.
Doak, who made a £600,000 move from Celtic in the summer, netted 10 minutes from time as the 10-man Reds won 4-3 against Rangers at Firhill Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The 16-year-old winger's moment to remember came when, after retrieving possession on the right flank, he showed power and poise to bustle his way into the area beyond several defenders before finishing with the outside of his right foot into the bottom corner.
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Oakley Cannonier had earlier scored twice - moving on to seven goals in four matches in the competition this season before limping off before half-time with an injury - with Melkamu Frauendorf also netting for Barry Lewtas' under-19 side, who had Lee Jonas sent off shortly after the interval when leading 3-1.
With Napoli and Ajax drawing 1-1 earlier in the day, Liverpool know a point in Amsterdam in a fortnight will secure top spot in Group A and a place in the last 16.
In a lively start, Liverpool went ahead after eight minutes, primarily due to some outrageous skill from the irresistible Doak. After a deep cross from Luke Chambers reached him at the far post, Doak turned by flicking the ball over his marker and his low shot was deflected into the path of Cannonier, who demonstrated good feet to squeeze home an effort into the bottom corner.
Rangers, though, were level within two minutes, Charlie Lindsay slotting home from the penalty spot after a mix-up in the Liverpool defence led to Zakariya Lovelace being bundled over.
But the visitors were ahead again shortly afterwards, Frauendorf keeping his cool to finish a fine Bobby Clark pass inside the area after the impressive Dom Corness won possession in midfield.
Rangers missed a glorious chance to equalise again when, after Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies parried a shot from Connor Allan, Robbie Ure headed wide with the goal gaping.
And the Reds made the most of their escape 10 minutes before the break as, from a Rangers corner, Doak won possession on the edge of his own area and brilliantly sent Cannonier clear, the striker finishing at the third attempt.
Liverpool made life difficult for themselves when Jonas was dismissed three minutes after the break after allowing Ure to get goalside and impeding the Rangers man, the hosts pulling a goal back on 62 minutes when Arron Lyall forced the ball home after a fine one-two with Lovelace.
More poor defending saw Rangers level on 72 minutes, the dangerous Lovelace barging his way into the area and chipping against the post with the Liverpool players slow to react and Ure bundling home from close range. But then came Doak's matchwinning strike to leave the Reds on the brink of qualification.
LIVERPOOL U19s (4-3-3): Davies; Miles, Quansah, Jonas, Chambers; Corness, Clark, McConnell; Doak (Pilling 90+1), Cannonier (Koumas 38), Frauendorf. Subs: Hewitson, Hayes-Green, Young, Kone-Doherty, Gyimah. BOOKING: Davies. SENDING-OFF: Jonas.
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