U21s beaten in Chester friendly
Liverpool U21s were beaten 4-0 by Chester FC in their pre-season friendly on Wednesday evening.
The young Reds' fifth preparation match ahead of the new campaign ended in frustration for Michael Beale's side at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.
A bright start by the travellers saw captain Jordan Rossiter latch onto a Harry Wilson pass in space centrally, but the midfielder slid his effort wide of the post.
Wilson himself then twice went close, firstly with a dipping set-piece from distance and later with a dangerous half-volley that demanded a save from the goalkeeper.
On 35 minutes, Ryan Kent, fresh from the senior summer tour, whipped a curling shot against the crossbar from around 20 yards out.
But it was the home side who broke the deadlock, just before the interval, when John Rooney found the net at close range having been picked out by Jordan Chapell.
There were wholesale changes by Beale in the second half and Chester served a further warning as Craig Mahon set up fellow substitute Kane Richards to head onto the post.
In the 73rd minute, however, Sam Hughes doubled the hosts' advantage at the second time of asking from Rooney's free-kick delivery.
The latter then added to Liverpool's disappointment with two long-range goals in the closing moments to claim a hat-trick and seal the result.
Liverpool team: Fulton, Randall, Whelan, Cleary, Paez, Rossiter, Wilson, Chirivella, Sinclair, Kent, Ojo. Substitutes: McLaughlin, Firth, Yesil, Brewitt, Polgar, Hart, Gomes, O'Hanlon, Brannagan, Marsh.