For all of the first-team experience within the Liverpool U21s side which downed Sunderland 5-2 at Anfield on Tuesday, it was two teenagers who anchored the home midfield.

Cameron Brannagan and Jordan Rossiter, 17 and 16 years old respectively, provided the platform for the likes of Luis Alberto and Raheem Sterling to inspire a comeback from two goals down.

The pair's contribution did not go unnoticed by U21s boss Alex Inglethorpe, who believes both aspiring youngsters proved they belong at that level.

"The first-team lads will take the plaudits but it would be remiss of me not to speak about Cameron and Jordan," he said.

"They were the two youngest players out on the pitch. Cameron is 17 and Jordan is just 16.

"I thought they were outstanding in midfield. They can learn a lot from playing with first-team players.

"You don't want them to be overawed by playing alongside them.

"You can't be intimidated and play second fiddle. You've got to try and prove you are good enough to be on the pitch and they did that."

A second-half hat-trick from Alberto, following efforts by Jack Dunn and Sterling, prompted a fantastic recovery for the U21s against the then Barclays U21 Premier League leaders.

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Inglethorpe reflected: "It was looking a bit bleak at half-time. A lot of players out there had travelled back from Swansea the night before, got back late and possibly found it difficult to get into their rhythm early on.

"Sunderland deserved their lead but our response in the second half was terrific. The message was: we know we can do better.

"We wanted to be braver on the ball, more thrust and movement going forward, better quality and timing of runs and a bit more integrity with how we went about our work."