AcademyU21s match report: Liverpool beaten at Leicester City in Premier League 2 opener

Jayden Danns and Michael Laffey were on the scoresheet for the Reds in Rob Page's first competitive game as head coach, but the goals proved to be consolations.

Doubles from Michael Golding and Nathaniel Opoku secured victory for the Foxes.

A period of silence was held in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva ahead of kick-off at Leicester's training facility in Seagrave.

The hosts would establish a 1-0 lead with nine minutes on the clock, when Golding was fastest to follow up the rebound from Armin Pecsi's fine save off Opoku.

Liverpool responded well but were unable to convert from a trio of promising situations, as Leicester then went on to double their advantage on the half-hour mark.

Opoku pounced on a loose pass on the edge of the Reds' box and proceeded to calmly slot past Pecsi.

Danns halved the deficit four minutes into the second half, firing into the top corner with his left foot after a neat flick by Laffey.

However, the Foxes would score twice in quick succession to take the contest away from their opponents; Opoku and Golding made no mistake again when presented with chances at close range.

Page's side fought to the end and reduced the arrears in the 88th minute with Laffey's excellent strike in the aftermath of a corner.

Team

Liverpool: Pecsi, Ramsay, Lucky, Nallo (Pinnington, 46), Miles, Davidson (Wright, 60), Pilling, Laffey, Morrison (Ahmed, 78), Danns (Figueroa, 60), Kone-Doherty.

Unused sub: Hall.

Next up

Liverpool return to the Kirkby Academy next Monday to face Burnley in a 2pm BST kick-off.