Liverpool missed a chance to close the gap at the top of the U18s Premier League when they were beaten at Manchester City.
Layton Stewart equalised twice from the spot only for the Reds to concede two goals during the closing stages to go down 4-2 at the City Football Academy on Saturday afternoon.
The result means Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's side remain six points behind leaders Manchester United in second place.
City went ahead shortly before the quarter-hour mark when a fine run and cross from Joe Hodge set up Taj Sodje to head home.
Liverpool were level on 28 minutes when, after Callum Doyle fouled inside the box, Stewart converted from the spot.
A fine effort from Micah Hamilton regained the lead for City on the stroke of half-time, cutting in off the wing before firing home from 20 yards.
But the young Reds struck back five minutes into the second half when Stewart again held his nerve from 12 yards after Shea Charles was penalised.
Stewart could then have put Liverpool ahead by completing his hat-trick but his effort rolled wide from barely five yards out.
And City responded by going ahead on 77 minutes, when Sodje notched a second after Doyle headed on from a corner, with the hosts making the game safe in the fourth minute of injury time through Alex Robertson.
Liverpool U18s are next in action on Saturday week at home to Blackburn Rovers.
LIVERPOOL U18s: Ojrzynski, Wilson, Quansah, Miles, Norris, Corness, Woltman, Mabaya, Cannonier, Musialowski (Frauendorf 83), Stewart. Subs: Mrozek, McConnell.
