An experimental Liverpool U18 side lost 3-1 away at Middlesbrough in freezing conditions on Saturday.
With an eye on Tuesday's FA Youth Cup third round tie at Swindon Town, Steve Cooper chose to rest key players and fielded an experimental line-up mainly comprising youngsters from the U16 team.
Louis Roubles scored the consolation goal for Cooper's charges.
Reflecting on the game, Cooper told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was a good opportunity to give some of the youngsters in the squad a chance.
"I thought we only had ourselves to blame really because we had a lot of possession but gave away some sloppy goals, and if you do that you are not going to take anything from the game."
Liverpool U18 team: Mersin, Burke, Cleary, Brewitt, O'Hanlon, Rossiter (Marsh 60), Randall, Trickett-Smith (Kent 45), Roubles, Brannagan, Ojo.
