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Liverpool Under-23s boss Neil Critchley has revealed that Adam Lallana was just seconds away from being substituted before he was sent off in their 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in Premier League 2.

The England international lost his head just past the hour mark on his comeback from injury when he reacted angrily to an aerial challenge from George Marsh.

Lallana grabbed the teenager around the neck and was sent off for violent conduct. He will serve a three-match ban but it won't apply to first-team matches.

Critchley, who had Liam Millar on the touchline waiting to come on for the 29-year-old, says it was completely out of character.

"I've never seen Adam react like that so I'd like to see the incident again," he told LFCTV.

"It was ironic as we had Liam Millar on the side of the pitch and we were ready to sub him. Adam was actually coming off.

"I'd need to see it again. I wasn't sure about some of the refereeing decisions throughout the whole game but I wouldn't want to get involved in going on about the referee too much."

It was a miserable night for a Liverpool side which also included Danny Ings, Dominic Solanke and Ben Woodburn.

(Image: Alex Morton/Getty Images)

They were beaten by Jack Roles' second-half strike and the young Reds ended up with nine men after George Johnston picked up a second yellow card late on.

Critchley said: "It was quite eventful. We started reasonably well and had some chances early on which we didn't capitalise on.

"They had some chances towards the end of the first half and there wasn't much in it.

"It was difficult to play on that pitch. We wanted to get the ball in the box and the first goal was always going to be crucial and they got it.

"The game obviously changed with the sending off but the spirit and character we showed was outstanding. We were just a bit frantic at times with our decision making. We have to dust ourselves down and go again."