Liverpool U18s were beaten 4-2 in their top-of-the-table clash with Manchester City at the Academy on Saturday morning.
Liam Delap’s solo strike gave the U18 Premier League North leaders a ninth-minute advantage and they doubled it before half-time through Samuel Edozie’s smash off the bar.
James McAtee stretched City’s lead to three, only for the Reds to mount a late comeback with goals from Tom Hill and Max Woltman that was quashed by Cole Palmer’s 88th-minute clincher.
Barry Lewtas’ charges now trail by nine points at the summit but do have two games in hand.
Both teams realised the need to keep the play on the ground due to the severe winds in Kirkby and a direct, emphatic piece of football brought the visitors an opener.