Liverpool progressed to the last 16 of the NextGen series after an impressive 4-1 victory over reigning champions Inter Milan at Langtree Park.

Alex Inglethorpe's side qualified courtesy of two penalties from Conor Coady either side of a Samed Yesil brace on a night when Ryan McLaughlin was simply unplayable down the right channel.

The Reds had lost the opening three games of this year's tournament after finishing third in the inaugural NextGen series last year.

However, wins against Rosenborg and then Borussia Dortmund set them up for a must-win clash against the Italian giants.

And Inglethorpe's men were dealt an early scare on Tuesday night when striker Djumo Bocar manoeuvred into space on the edge of the box and rattled the outside of Ryan Fulton's post after just 24 seconds of play.

At the other end, Jordon Ibe skipped along the by-line and cut the ball back for Yesil but Simone Pasa moved swiftly to thwart the striker as he shaped to smash the ball beyond Dawid Smug.

Krisztian Adjordan's slip let Thomas Pedrabissi in on goal on 22 minutes. However, the Liverpool midfielder recovered brilliantly to deny the Inter man before Fulton rushed out to collect.

Anthony Backhouse, the referee, was spot on to wave away penalty appeals for Adorjan's challenge and he was on the money again eight minutes later when he paved the way for Liverpool to make an all-important breakthrough in the match.

McLaughlin sped through the heart of the Inter defence and was upended inside the penalty area. Coady stepped up and sent the 'keeper the wrong way to tuck the ball away low to the left.

It was 2-0 to the home side when Yesil seized onto an under-hit back-pass, skipped past Smug and rolled the ball into an empty net to double Liverpool's lead.

Marco Benassi hit back for the visitors on the hour mark when he drilled the ball through a wall of red shirts in the box to make it 2-1.

But three minutes later, Liverpool restored their two-goal lead. Ibe slid the ball in behind the Inter defence, the superb McLaughlin raced onto the pass and crossed for Yesil, who tapped home.

Daniel Trickett-Smith, on for the injured Jerome Sinclair, was denied by Smug after Yesil pivoted and threaded the ball into his path.

Then on 77 minutes, Liverpool wrapped up the win. After McLaughlin burst into the penalty area and was floored, Coady calmly slotted the ball past Smug from 12-yards to seal a memorable victory.

Liverpool team: Fulton, McLaughlin, Smith, Jones, Sokolik, Coady, Sinclair (Trickett-Smith), Pelosi, Yesil, Adorjan (Rossiter), Ibe.