Liverpool suffered a nightmare in the rain as they were thumped by Manchester City in the Premier League U18 Cup.
Barry Lewtas' side slumped to a 4-0 reverse at the Academy in Kirkby on Saturday in their Group D clash
As in the league meeting between the teams earlier in the season, which City won 5-2, the young Reds were made to pay for failing to take their chances.
Liverpool had opportunities in the first half, notably when James Norris was denied by City goalkeeper Ciaran Slicker who then kept out an overhead kick from Tyler Morton, who was making his first start for the under-18s.
But City were always a danger, Reds goalkeeper Jakub Ojrzynski - impressive in the UEFA Youth League win in Genk in midweek - denying Samuel Edozie and Cole Palmer.
And the visitors went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Edozie crossed for Palmer to notch form a matter of yards.
The timing of the goal seemed to knock the wind out of Liverpool, who went further behind six minutes into the second half from a counter-attack, Palmer teeing up James McAtee to score.
Six minutes later City extended their advantage when Alex Robertson thrashed into the bottom corner, and while Liverpool enjoyed good possession in the testing conditions, the rout was completed when a trialist for the visitors applied the finishing touch deep in injury time.
Liverpool conclude the group stage at Southampton next month with victory required to give themselves a chance of claiming one of two places available to qualify for the knockout stages as best runners-up.
LIVERPOOL U18s : Ojrzynski, Walls, Koumetio, Savage, Norris, Clarkson (Corness 86), Cain, Beck, Stewart, Morton, Balagizi. Subs: Winterbottom, Quansah, Wilson, Stephenson.
