If Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool team demonstrated to Ajax a step up in level on Wednesday evening, it was an opposite experience for the Reds' youngsters earlier in the day.
The under-19s were well beaten 3-1 by their Dutch opponents in the UEFA Youth League meeting at the De Toekomst sports complex in Amsterdam, a result that leaves Liverpool still needing a point in their final game at home to Napoli next Tuesday to top Group A and qualify automatically for the last 16.
The Reds, who had won their opening four games in the group, were forced into a host of changes with centre-back Lee Jonas and goalkeeper Harvey Davies suspended and right-back Isaac Mabaya and striker Oakley Cannonier - who has seven goals already in the competition - both injured.
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And coach Barry Lewtas says: "It's still in our own hands. Coming away in these games is always difficult. We've had a good run in the competition and hopefully this defeat is just a blemish.
"I'm always careful of commenting on missing players as it's unfair on the lads who have played, but we did have to shuffle the pack in terms of positioning. We had a few players in positions they haven't played recently and certainly not at this level.
"The players we have are good enough to perform. For some it was a jump up to a level of game they've never started in before. But that's why we are here - to give people an opportunity. We had enough moments to be better in the final third, but our final pass and shot wasn't good enough."
While outplayed for the most part, Liverpool - who are already assured of at least a play-off match to reach the knockout stages - were irked at a number of decisions from the officials, not least the failure to penalise Ajax for a clear foul on James McConnell in the build-up to their game-clinching third goal.
And Lewtas admits his players could have been more cute in embracing the dynamic of the game. "I never normally mention the referee, but I have to this time," he says. "It was a foul for the third goal. We said to the players at half-time that this referee could work in our favour as he doesn't blow for fouls, but on reflection he had a bigger impact on the game than we realised.
"I thought we could have been more aggressive. Sometimes the referee sets the tone and Ajax understood that and were a lot more aggressive than us, which is credit to them. We were a little bit naive at moments. But that's why we're in this competition. Some of the boys have had a taste here of what the next level looks like."
Trent Kone-Doherty had given Liverpool hope of a comeback when, after the Reds fell 2-0 behind, the winger netted shortly before half-time with his first goal at this level after good work from fellow 16-year-old winger Ben Doak.
"Trent is one of the younger ones," says Lewtas. "That's only his third game at this level. He's done ever so well with the 18s, so this is a great experience for him, playing Ajax at a real good level. His goal should do him a world of good."
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