AcademyU21s match report: Liverpool beaten at Crewe Alexandra in Vertu Trophy

The Reds started positively in the Group H encounter at Mornflake Stadium and dominated the early possession against their League Two opponents.

It was the hosts, however, who took the lead in the 11th minute as they were awarded a penalty.

Goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek cleared his lines but was adjudged to have tackled Emre Tezgel unfairly inside the area with the forward advancing.

Tezgel hauled himself up to take the spot-kick himself and duly converted to earn the advantage for the home side.

Rob Page’s outfit responded well to the setback, with Trent Kone-Doherty on the left flank in particular causing Crewe a headache.

He first smashed the near post with a driving effort, before forcing goalkeeper Sam Waller into action with two stern saves to keep his clean sheet intact.

Crewe doubled their lead with a slick move forward on the half-hour mark, though, Tezgel turning provider to allow Dion Rankine to sprint through and lift a shot over Mrozek and into the back of the net.

Ahead of the interval, Josh Sonni-Lambie fired another warning, latching on to Calvin Ramsay’s low ball into the box, but his effort was beaten away.

Liverpool began the second half in similar fashion as they played out the opening stages by dominating much of the ball.

Kone-Doherty produced more good play by finding Lucas Pitt in the area, though stopper Waller was equal to his effort.

The winger then fired wide himself from a tight angle as the Reds stepped up their efforts in a bid to get themselves back into the game.

Joe Bradshaw hit a driving shot from distance wide of the goal after an error at the back from Crewe allowed him to pick up the ball in the final third.

In the closing minutes, Kaide Gordon displayed clever feet inside the area as Liverpool pressed the hosts well, forcing them to give up the ball in their own box.

But his placed effort fell inches past the far post in what was the last of the meaningful action.

Liverpool: Mrozek, Ramsay, R. Williams (Nallo, 63), Lucky, Pitt, Laffey (Onanuga, 63), Spearing (Trueman, 46), Gordon, Kone-Doherty, Pilling, Sonni-Lambie (Bradshaw, 62).

Unused subs: Misciur, Davidson, Pinnington.

Next up

Liverpool U21s return to competitive action on Sunday October 26 with the visit of Everton to the Kirkby Academy in a 1pm GMT kick-off.

The Merseyside derby in Premier League 2 will be available to watch live for supporters via All Red Video.