Liverpool suffered a hugely disappointing Premier League 2 afternoon as they were thumped at home by West Ham United.
The young Reds struggled to contain a powerful Hammers side as they were beaten 4-0 at the Academy in Kirkby on Saturday.
Barry Lewtas's side rarely looked capable of threatening despite a starting line-up that boasted Luke Chambers, Calum Scanlon and James McConnell, who had all featured for the first team in recent weeks.
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Liverpool, who started with three 16-year-olds, were their own worst enemy at times with some sloppy use of possession out of defence contributing to them tumbling to only a second league defeat of the season.
The Reds started sluggishly and fell behind on 13 minutes. Having coughed up possession in midfield, Liverpool were unable to prevent George Earthy bursting into the area down the inside left channel, with his low cross tucked away by the unmarked Callum Marshall from close range.
Mateusz Musialowski struck the base of the post with a deflected effort but otherwise West Ham goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge was largely untroubled in the first half as Liverpool struggled to find any rhythm, with visitors having a Patrick Kelly shot dragged wide and a goal disallowed for offside.
Musialowski rolled a shot just wide of the far post as the Reds improved immediately after the interval, but West Ham were given far too much encouragement and duly ran away with the game in the second half.
Marshall scored his second on the hour when showing good composure to score from close range after a cross to the far post dropped to him, Gideo Kodua tapped in on the line three minutes later after Kelly clipped the ball over Fabian Mrozek following another Liverpool defensive mistake and, on 74 minutes, Mrozek's failure to properly collect a cross from the left allowed Earthy a tap-in.
The Reds had to play out the final few moments with 10 men after injury substitute Lee Jonas was forced off with no more replacements available.
Liverpool U21s are next in action on Tuesday when they play their final EFL Trophy group match at Barrow (kick-off 7pm).
LIVERPOOL U21s (4-3-3): Mrozek; Miles (Davidson 62), Pinnington, Nallo, Chambers; McConnell, Pilling (Frauendorf 62), Nyoni; Kone-Doherty (Jonas 77), Musialowski, Scanlon (Spearing 80). Subs: Kelly. BOOKINGS: Nyoni, Nallo.
