Goals from Jack Dunn and Adam Morgan could not prevent Liverpool U18s slipping to their first defeat of the season against Derby County on Saturday lunchtime.
Mike Marsh's youngsters now have four points from their opening three games after the 3-2 loss - but it might have been more had a clutch of decent opportunities been converted.
The Reds took the lead on 15 minutes when Dunn fizzed home from an acute angle to submit an early entry into the Goal of the Season contest.
The visitors then mounted a comeback, equalising through Callum Ball 15 seconds into the second period.
A frantic four minutes then followed as Ball struck again with a direct free-kick on 69 before Morgan headed home an instant leveller.
But the game had only just kicked-off once more when Kwame Thomas fired the winner on 73 minutes.
Liverpool looked good to snatch a point with a string of chances but it wasn't to be.
Liverpool U18s: Jamie Stephens, Peter Aylmer, Tom King, Michael Wilson, Matty Regan, Lewis Hatch (Yalany Baio 60), Josh Sumner (Nathan Quirk 75), Jack Dunn, Adam Morgan, Henoc Mukendi (Saim Gainford 60), Jordan Lussey. Subs unused: David Moli, Tyrell Belford.
