Liverpool suffer new frustration as absences force midfielder to answer call again

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Jay Spearing of Liverpool(Image: LFC Foundation/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool suffered more EFL Trophy disappointment as they opened the group stage with defeat at League One outfit Burton Albion.

Goals in either half sent a Reds under-21 side tumbling to a 2-0 reverse at Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday evening in their Group H fixture.

With Kaide Gordon, Rhys Williams and summer signing Will Wright joined in the starting line-up by U21s coach Jay Spearing - the 36-year-old midfielder an overage player for the fourth successive season in the competition - Rob Page's side more than held their own during the opening quarter.

But shortly after JJ McKiernan struck the underside of the bar for the home team, Liverpool went behind on 37 minutes in somewhat unfortunate circumstances.

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Fabio Tavares raced through and had his effort blocked by Liverpool goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek, but the rebound struck the Burton player and floated into the net.

Liverpool - missing the likes of Jayden Danns, Trey Nyoni, Armin Pecsi and Trent Kone-Doherty due to international commitments - became more of a threat after the break with Kieran Morrison forcing Burton goalkeeper Kamil Dudek into a save while substitute Keyrol Figueroa, the U21s matchwinner at Stoke on Friday, was too high with one effort.

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Burton made the game safe against the run of play midway through the second half when, after Morrison lost the ball in a dangerous position, possession was eventually fed to Julian Larsson who scored with an angled shot.

Crewe Alexandra thrashed Chesterfield 7-1 in the other Group H game on Tuesday night.

Liverpool travel to Crewe next month before finishing the group at Chesterfield on November 11.

LIVERPOOl U21s: Mrozek; Davidson (Pitt 64), Williams, Pinnington, Miles; Spearing (Laffey 55), Pilling; Gordon, Ahmed (Onanuga 64), Morrison; Wright (Figueroa 55).

BOOKINGS: Morrison, Figueroa, Onanuga.