Tuesday night's 2015 UEFA under-21 European Championship final saw Tiago Ilori's Portugal U21s fall to defeat in a cruel 4-3 penalty shoot-out loss against Sweden, completing an eventful and entertaining tournament in Czech Republic.
Though Ilori suffered defeat, he was not the only Liverpool player to have endured a gut-wrenching loss - with Emre Can of Germany and England's Danny Ings both crashing out of the competition in unceremonious circumstances.
But how exactly did the Reds' representatives get on?
Emre Can's Germany:
The towering midfielder, played in the centre of the park, as opposed to right-back or central defence - where he was played for Liverpool last season - was the subject of numerous vines and highlight videos throughout the competition.
Starting off against Serbia in the first group game, Can ensured that Die Mannschaft earned a point in their 1-1 tournament opener - after Filip Đuričić had given the Serbians the lead just eight minutes in.
But Can levelled just nine minutes later, tricking his marker into a slide challenge on the edge of the area by cutting the ball back with his left foot before side-footing a right-footed effort into the far bottom corner with aplomb.
The ex-Bayern Munich man put in a stellar performance, completing the full 90 minutes and managing an 87.8% pass accuracy - the third best ratio of the starting Germany side.
Can was in fine form defensively, completing the second-highest number (3) of successful tackles in his side, added to two completed dribbles and two clearances.
More than capable in the physical battles, Can was one of the outstanding performers in their second game of the group stages as they went head-to-head with Denmark U21s.
After scoring last time out, the 21-year-old's excellently executed through ball allowed Kevin Volland to stab the ball beneath the goalkeeper for the game's opener after 32 minutes.
Germany would go on to win 3-0, as Volland added another - before Matthias Ginter put the game beyond doubt in the second-half, but Can remained integral throughout.
He produced an even neater show on the ball, maintaining a sublime 92.7% pass accuracy whilst completing another successful dribble as he continued to drive at the defence with his lung-bursting runs from deep.
But operating as more of a defensive midfielder, Can still made three successful tackles too in yet another commanding display.
The highly-rated £10 million midfielder continued as one of his side's stand-out performers into the final game of group stages, where Can and co. took on hosts Czech Republic - who needed a win to progress.
The Germans took the lead through Nico Schulz after the break, before Ladislav Krejci levelled 11 minutes later as the two sides drew 1-1 to give Horst Hrubesch's men passage into the semis.
Yet again, against Czech Republic, Can was in brilliant form - completing four key passes despite just an 80.5% pass accuracy percentage.
Can was fantastic offensively and defensively, completing one successful dribble and having one shot on target, whilst winning three tackles, three interceptions and three clearances in another imposing performance.
Having successfully guided themselves through to the final four without defeat, Germany still came second after Denmark had finished a point above them - which pitted them against the only other team yet to lose, Portugal.
In Ilori's side they met fierce opponents, and the Portuguese side's superior quality showed as they thumped Germany 5-0 to seal their spot in the final.
Can managed a pass accuracy of 81.6%, completing one key pass and a single successful dribble. He was again busy defensively with three tackles and two interceptions, but he was unable to prevent his side suffering a miserable loss.
Goals from Bernardo Silva, Ricardo Pereira, Ivan Cavaleiro, João Mário and Ricardo Horta sent them crashing out in forgettable fashion.
Nevertheless, aside from their semi-final loss, it was a successful tournament for Emre Can - who proved himself in midfield for a talented side, and will be hoping he can feature more in his favoured position for the Reds this coming season.
Danny Ings' England:
Danny Ings, who reached an agreement with Liverpool to join the club just a week or so before the tournament began, endured a distinctly disappointing time with England under-21s.
With the Young Lions 1-0 down to eventual runners-up Portugal in their first game of the group stages, Ings replaced Jesse Lingard with just 16 minutes left but was unable to prevent his side from failing to score for the first time in 18 games as they lost 1-0.
Gareth Southgate's England were flat and uninspiring throughout their opening game and little changed when Ings came on, with the striker restricted to a mere 12 touches and just five completed passes.
The red-hot form of Harry Kane throughout the 2014-15 campaign meant the Tottenham Hotspur man was preferred to former Burnley front-man Ings against the eventual winners of the tournament, Sweden, in the second group game.
This time, however, Ings was afforded more time on the pitch after being brought on for Will Hughes at half-time. Again though, the 22-year-old wasn't able to make the desired impact, making just seven more touches (19 in total) than he did in his 16-minute cameo in the game prior.
That said, Ings did help England add an extra attacking emphasis - linking up with Kane and in fact almost headed home an opening goal from latter's cross just minutes after coming on, but the delivery was headed clear before it could reach him.
Ings was also unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty five minutes from time, but he and Southgate's side finally broke the deadlock as Jesse Lingard's late stunner gave Ings and England a huge 1-0 victory.
Regardless, Ings was far from at his best - failing to register a single shot all game, although he was admittedly playing slightly behind Kane in an unfamiliar 'no.10' role.
Needing a win over Italy U21s in their final group game, Ings was finally handed a start - but again flattered to deceive, and was arguably the worst player on the pitch.
He had less touches than any other starter, including both goalkeepers, despite managing a single key pass. Ings wasn't bad in possession as he played in behind Kane again, keeping 85.7% of his passes accurate, but he was unable to create any chances.
Unsurprisingly, Andrea Belotti and Marco Benassi put the game well out of sight before England could find the back of the net. Two goals in two minutes before the half-hour mark put England in a dangerous position, before Benassi sealed a brace with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Nathan Redmond could only net a 92nd minute consolation, as England crashed out to a 3-1 defeat having scored just two goals and failed to really build upon their disastrous 2013 under-21 Euros campaign - where they crashed out of the competition with three losses from three.
Ings was disappointing throughout, his performances posing questions as to whether he is good enough to be signing for Liverpool this summer - worries he'll be keen to dismiss when he joins up with the side in a few weeks' time.
Tiago Ilori's Portugal:
Ilori was another who enjoyed a successful tournament individually, helping Portugal to keep four clean sheets in the four games which he featured (though he lasted only 29 minutes in their first meeting with Sweden), though they fell on penalties at the final hurdle.
Esperanças were in fantastic form, conceding just one goal in five games (even after the final went to extra-time) and scoring seven goals themselves, with Ilori at the heart of the defence until injuries kept him out of their final group game and their semi-final fixture versus Germany.
Ilori's Portugal took on England in the first game, as they held firm in the first-half to keep out their bright opponents, before rallying after the break.
That culminated in João Mário's 57th minute strike, which proved enough to hand them the three points - but Ilori was in excellent form, winning three aerial duels and making five clearances, added to a single blocked shot and an 83.3% passing accuracy as he helped keep an in-form Kane quiet.
Ilori was at the very heart of an impeccable defence throughout the tournament and helped keep a second successive clean sheet in their second group game against Italy despite filling in at right-back.
Portugal were actually rather poor and Luigi Di Biagio's could, and perhaps should, have come as victors but Ilori's defensive contributions - four interceptions, six clearances and a blocked shot - added to his tidiness on the ball (87% pass accuracy) helped keep the Italians to a goalless stalemate.
Rui Jorge's Group B leaders need just a draw in their final group game, as they took on Sweden - who they would face in the final only six days later.
Goncalo Paciencia's late strike looked to have secured another victory, but Simon Tibbling's 89th minute strike meant both sides finished off with a point and progressed to the knockout rounds.
Nevertheless, Ilori had a disappointing afternoon - being withdrawn after 29 minutes with a thigh injury. He still managed to keep 80% of his passes on target, one tackle, one interception and a single clearance in his brief cameo.
That put Portugal into the semi-finals, where they recorded a historic five-goal victory over Germany - but Ilori was forced to miss an encounter against Emre Can and co. through injury.
Nevertheless, Ilori's teammates did the business to set up a second meeting with Sweden in Prague - this time to contest the final of the competition, which the centre-back would return from injury for.
Taking on Jens Gustafsson's side, Portugal started the brighter side - as Sergio Oliveira's early free-kick struck the crossbar, but they could not find the breakthrough.
They continued to dominate much of the possession, but Sweden grew into the game and ensured an exciting end to normal time.
Extra-time was needed to split the two sides, but the extra half-an-hour still couldn't determine the winner - Isaac Kiese Thelin's curler just evading the far post.
Eventually, the game stretched into penalties - but Swedish stopper Patrik Carlgren was equal to Ricardo Esgaio's spot-kick, before Abdul Khalili missed his straight after.
It fell to William Carvalho to force sudden death, but Carlgren's save gave Sweden their first ever triumph in the tournament as Portugal went out with a whimper.
Nevertheless, Ilori had another excellent evening - maintaining a 91.5% pass accuracy, winning four aerial duels, two interceptions, an incredible 13 clearances and blocking one shot from centre-back.
But his stalwart efforts were not enough to help his side towards glory, though Ilori finished the competition in Czech Republic with another clean sheet and another impressive display.