Match reportFrustration for Liverpool U23s in defeat at Brighton
It was a frustrating day for Liverpool U23s as they lost 3-0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion in Premier League 2 on Friday.
Swiss forward Lorent Tolaj netted a double for the home side at the AMEX Elite Performance Centre and they added a third goal in stoppage time.
Barry Lewtas was able to call upon the likes of Tyler Morton, Conor Bradley, Kaide Gordon and Owen Beck, but the young Reds found it tough going overall as they couldn't quite match their performance in the previous outing against Leicester City.
Liverpool actually started brightly and carved out an early opening when Morton saw his curled drive from 22 yards out well stopped by Kjell Scherpen.
At the other end, Cameron Peupion broke clear down the right and as he advanced past Jarell Quansah, he found Marc Leonard at the back post - only to see Bradley produce a fantastic block to deny the Brighton man what appeared to be a certain goal.
The home side took the lead on 21 minutes. A forward pass from Quansah was intercepted by Ed Turns, who in turn released Tolaj in space just inside the box and he fired an unstoppable effort beyond the reach of Marcelo Pitaluga into the bottom corner.
On 35 minutes the Reds had a glorious chance when a fine pass from James Norris sent Gordon through on goal, but the forward could only shoot straight at Scherpen having moved into the penalty box.
The Reds then survived a scare when Tolaj burst past Quansah down the left and his cross into the six-yard box was narrowly missed by Todd Miller.
The home side doubled their lead just before the hour mark as Miller broke away down the right and his low cross was turned into the net by Tolaj.
Brighton then made it 3-0 in stoppage time when a backpass from Jack Bearne went straight to Ben Wilson, who netted.
To compound a bad day for the visitors, Dominic Corness was then sent off after a late challenge.
Reflecting on the outing, Lewtas told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was a really frustrating day for us.
"We are a young side this season but we need to iron out one or two things in our play and be more consistent."
Liverpool U23s: Pitaluga, Bradley, Beck, Quansah, Boyes, Clayton (Koumetio, 61), Gordon, Morton, Woltman, Norris (Corness, 68), Musialowski (Bearne, 61).
Unused substitutes: Kelly, Dixon-Bonner.