Lewis Koumas scored twice but couldn't prevent Liverpool falling to defeat against Manchester City in a rollercoaster under-18 Premier League clash.
Koumas took his tally for the season to eight goals in seven games as the young Reds came from behind before surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 at the Academy in Kirkby on Saturday afternoon.
Trent Kone-Doherty also found that target but Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's side were largely second-best for much of the game against the impressive visitors.
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Liverpool had the first sight of goal in the opening moments when Ben Doak found space inside the area and fired a shot straight at City goalkeeper George Murray-Jones.
But the visitors quickly settled and began to probe the Reds defence, a good run by Joel Ndala from the left ending with a shot fielded by home goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek, Matthew Whittingham flashing a low ball across the face of goal and Mrozek making a fine save from Justin Oboavwoduo after Liverpool gave the ball away cheaply.
And City's dominance was rewarded with the lead on 24 minutes, winger Ashton Muir forcing his way beyond left-back Francis Gyimah and sprinting into the area before pulling the ball back for Ndala to convert.
The game, though, was transformed by a flurry of Liverpool goals either side of half-time. After a rare bout of home pressure in the 32nd minute, Kone-Doherty played the ball into the path of Gyimah to cross from the left, with Koumas scrambling the ball over the line after his initial header was blocked.
Then, six minutes later, City keeper Murray-Jones saw his clearance charged down by Koumas, giving Kone-Doherty the chance to divert the dropping ball into the empty net.
City midfielder Nico O'Reilly, who had earlier headed over, was close just before the break with a shot that drifted just inches wide, only for Liverpool to extend their lead three minutes into the second half when excellent work by Doak down the right ended with a low cross converted by Koumas.
The visitors responded strongly and pulled a goal back on 68 minutes when Oboavwoduo slid in at the far post to convert a low Whittingham cross before levelling seven minutes later as Jaden Heskey - son of former Liverpool forward Emile - shot through Mrozek from close range.
And City completed their comeback with nine minutes remaining when Whittingham was on hand to turn home a Oboavwoduo cross from close range after the home defence was once again cut apart. But there was still time for Liverpool to almost snatch a leveller when, in the fifth minute of injury time, Koumas headed narrowly wide from a corner.
Liverpool are next in U18 Premier League North action on Saturday, October 1 when they entertain Nottingham Forest at the Academy (kick-off 12pm).
LIVERPOOL U18s (4-3-3): Mrozek; Osborne, Miles, Hayes-Green, Gyimah (Giblin 84); Pinnington, McConnell, Morrison; Doak (Roberts 66), Koumas, Kone-Doherty (Danns 66). Subs: Hewitson, Figueroa. BOOKING: Koumas.
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