Liverpool suffered more European heartache after their hopes of UEFA Youth League glory were controversially ended in Portugal.
A debated strike from Rodrigo Ribeiro midway through the second half consigned the young Reds to a 1-0 quarter-final defeat against Sporting Lisbon here at the Stadium Aurelio Pereira on Tuesday afternoon.
It was the third time Liverpool - who lost Ben Doak early on with a suspected concussion - have fallen at the last eight in the competition. But they exited with their heads high after a defiant performance that perhaps deserved more reward.
