Liverpool's U19s have been eliminated from the NextGen Series at the last 16 stage after losing 4-0 against Sporting in Portugal.

The youngsters were depleted by a number of injuries plus the decision to leave captain Conor Coady at home training with the first team.

At the weekend Marc Pelosi was added to the injury list, which already included the names of Jordan Rossiter, Brad Smith, Jakub Sokolik and Samed Yesil.

The hosts needed just 11 minutes to snatch an advantage at the Estadio Jose Alvalade - Carlos Mane the scorer.

Played through behind the Reds' defence, the striker showed composure beyond his years to lift the ball over the onrushing Ryan Fulton before nodding into an empty net.

Mane headed an extender on 23 minutes, capitalising fully on the freedom he was afforded at the near post to beat Fulton for a second time.

The Reds' first real attempt in anger arrived in the 33rd minute, when midfielder Jordan Lussey scuffed a low strike from the edge of the Sporting area which bounced away off the right post.

Jordon Ibe fired narrowly wide as the hour mark approached, but the tie was over in the 64th minute. A corner into the Liverpool area fell perfectly for defender Joao Palhinha, who smashed into the roof of the net.

Krisztian Adorjan brought a strong save out of Sporting goalkeeper Mickael Meira with a powerful drive from 20 yards as the game wore on but there was to be no consolation for the young Reds.

Indeed, the home side grabbed a fourth in the closing minutes - Wilson Janco blasting into the bottom corner from long range.

Reds team: Fulton, Baio, Sama, Jones, McLaughlin, Lussey (Kent), Roddan, Morgan, Adorjan (Peterson), Dunn (Trickett-Smith), Ibe (Sinclair).