Ben Doak was the standout as Liverpool suffered Premier League 2 frustration at home to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
Doak returned after a spell on the sidelines with a muscle problem with a lively display in a goalless draw against the Londoners at the Academy in Kirkby.
The young Reds were dominant for long periods against a Chelsea side who went into the game just three points behind leaders Manchester City.
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But Barry Lewtas' side - which included Bobby Clark, Rhys Williams and Billy Koumetio in a strong starting line-up - couldn't find a way beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina.
After a cagey start, Liverpool gradually took control of a first half in which the direct running and pace of Doak was their most potent attacking weapon. It was one such run that forced a corner from which an outswinging delivery by Dom Corness was headed on to the top of the crossbar by Koumetio.
Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies did well to turn over a fierce long-range effort from Chelsea midfielder Juan Castillo, but the home side had the greater openings with Doak and Mateusz Musialowski shooting at Slonina and Williams wide with a far-post header from another corner won by the forceful Doak.
The Reds came close again shortly before the break when an excellent pass by Clark released Owen Beck inside the area but Slonina did well to save from close range at his near post.
Doak again solicited a decent stop from Slonina shortly after the break while, on a rare Chelsea forward foray, Lee Jonas blocked a Dylan Williams effort. Koumetio was narrowly over with an ambitious shot from inside his own half in an attempt to replicate his memorable strike against Paris Saint-Germain last month, and Luca Stephenson was close with a shot from range late on.
Liverpool U21s are next in Premier League 2 action at home to Leicester City on Saturday (kick-off 2pm)
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Davies; Jonas, Williams, Koumetio, Beck; Stephenson, Clark, Corness; Doak, Musialowski (Woltman 65), Frauendorf (Blair 71). Subs Hughes, Pilling. BOOKINGS: Doak, Beck.
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