Use your head like Sadio and subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jordan Rossiter is captain fantastic for the young Reds

It may be tempting fate to continue to build young Rossiter up and up - but the 17-year-old is central to everything the young Reds do well. And yes, he does resemble a young Steven Gerrard.

He was everywhere here - stamping his mark on the Real Madrid midfield.

A tackle here, a pass there and surging run after surging run, Rossiter leads by example and drove Neil Critchley’s side on today.

One set of tackles near the start set the tone, he snapped into the first one and then won the second clearly before drawing a foul on the edge of the box. Ryan Kent pulled the free-kick just wide but Real were simply opened up by Rossiter.

Moments later and there he was at it again, winning the ball back with a thunderous tackle before releasing Harry Wilson on goal to curl just wide.

He led Liverpool in the second half when they were well under attack. Rossiter never hid when the going got tough, not once.

He kept on winning tackles and clearing danger and when he got the ball at his feet his passing was superb. One lovely pass put Jerome Sinclair in behind the Madrid defence, but the young forward could only force a corner.

And with three minutes left on the clock Rossiter’s influence won the game for the Reds. It was he that was, as ever, superbly placed on the edge of the box when Sinclair's blocked effort came bobbling out to him. Rossiter could have taken a shot, many young players would have fancied the glory of getting the match winner. But not Rossiter, he did what was good for the team and slid in Wilson to get the goal that he had been so cruelly denied in the first half - and win the game for the Reds.

The sky is the limit for young Rossiter, and if he keeps putting in performances like this he won't be able to stop the hype.

Harry Wilson is an enigma

Harry Wilson, the great Welsh hope. The youngster that was capped by his country at the tender age of just 16 and 207 days to keep him out of English clutches.

The whole of the UK would hear about Wilson before many Liverpool fans did.

And boy, does he have talent.

He was unplayable in the first half today. It seemed that the only thing that had young Wilson's number in the first half was the woodwork - which kept him out twice.

Running from the right hand flank, Wilson gave Real Madrid nightmares with shot after shot. They couldn't handle him and he had a hand in both of Liverpool's goals.

It was a different story in the second half, he was nowhere to be found as Real Madrid came roaring back. Liverpool just couldn't get him into the game and he cut a frustrated figure out on the right touchline.

But the boy does have class, and where was he when Liverpool needed him with just minutes left on the clock? In the right place, at the right time.

Indeed it was Wilson who was well placed to get onto Rossiter's pass and win the game for Liverpool.

Perhaps it is because of these inconsistencies that Brendan Rodgers has kept him from the first team, but he'll iron them out as he matures.

But he's another that won't be able to prevent the hype if he turns in more performances like this.

The young Reds have the same issues as the senior team

The Liverpool U19s side is, just like the senior side, deadly in attack. But defending? Forget about it.

Indeed, they struggled when put under pressure in the second half here, they tried in vain to repel attack after attack from Real Madrid, and the Spanish side eventually drew level as the pressure told.

There were some decent performances from some of Liverpool's young defenders. Daniel Cleary and Joe Maguire were particulary impressive in the back four.

Maguire looks a superb prospect and he grew into the game here. His heading and tackling were first rate, and his distribution spot on.

But as a unit, the back four struggled with crosses and couldn't clear their lines.

They couldn't stop the danger coming down the right hand side and Madrid went close a number of times before they pulled the game level.

Ryan Kent's substitution at half time had a negative effect on Neil Critchley's team, and his replacement, former Arsenal trainee Oviemuno Ejara, struggled to make an impact as Real Madrid began to dominate the ball.

Fortunately, Liverpool showed the mental toughness that will delight the academy staff watching on and managed to put the pressure on in the final 10 minutes which ultimately led to them winning the game.

After allowing a late lead slip against Basel, the Swiss side scored two late goals to condemn the Reds to a 3-2 defeat, Critchley will be delighted with his side's response in this game.

In the meantime, they, just like the seniors, may want to work on those defensive issues which are holding them back.

Do that and the Reds can be a side to be reckoned with in the UEFA Youth League.