Young Reds edged out in Swiss friendly
A youthful Liverpool U21s lost 1-0 to Markus Babbel's FC Luzern in a pre-season friendly at the Swissporarena on Tuesday night.
Brazilian teenager Allan Rodrigues de Souza, an unused substitute during Saturday's pre-season friendly win in Helsinki, started in midfield. The Reds have secured the Internacional midfielder for the future and he is currently spending time with Liverpool with the permission of his club.
Allan was joined in the middle of the park by Pedro Chirivella who had recovered from the knock that forced him to leave the field during Sunday's win at Swindon Town.
Accepting an invitation to play the game from Liverpool treble hero Babbel, Michael Beale's side gave a good account of themselves but were frustrated on numerous occasions by the woodwork.
Ryan Kent kept up his excellent pre-season form with another inventive display and he hit the bar with a curling effort, before the home side took the lead just before half-time.
Beale's charges were excellent after the break. Jerome Sinclair saw an effort hit the inside of both posts but still stayed out, and Harry Wilson twice hit the bar from curled free-kicks.
Reflecting on the game, Beale told Liverpoolfc.com: "Luzern started strongly and were the dominant team in the first-half but we were excellent after the break.
"Allan was excellent for us and grew into the game in the second 45 minutes, Corey Whelan was superb for us once again in defence and our goalkeeper Ryan Fulton is looking strong, fully fit and back to his best.
"Wilson, Sinclair and Sergi Canos were excellent for us and we were unlucky not to score and get the equaliser we deserved.
"Overall it was a fantastic experience playing in a wonderful stadium and I'd like to say a big thank you to Markus and FC Luzern for hosting us."
Liverpool U21s: Fulton, Whelan, Maguire, Allan, Cleary (Randall 45), Chirivella (O'Hanlon), Dunn (Wilson 45), Madger Gomes (Hart 45), Sinclair, Brannagan (Canos 70), Kent (Yesil 80).