Liverpool under-21s capitulated in dramatic fashion against Everton in a pulsating mini-derby at Southport's Merseyrail Community Stadium on Wednesday evening, drawing 3-3 despite finding themselves three goals in-front after 36 minutes.
Harry Wilson - voted the best attacking player at the recent Otten Cup in Holland - opened the scoring after Everton defender Mason Holgate brought the lively winger down in the area and he coolly converted from the spot.
Less than ten minutes later, Liverpool led by two goals - after Joao Carlos Teixeira showcased his superior class and quality to sweep a shot into the bottom corner from range.
The Reds ran riot in the first 45 minutes, as they struck the post before twice having shots cleared off the line in quick succession - but Sergi Canos finally fired home a third after 36 minutes.
Still, Everton grew into the game in the final minutes of the first-half, and entered the interval with something to show for their efforts after skipper Joe Williams' shot from distance found its way into the back of the net via a deflection.
And they remained the better side after the break thanks to some tactical decisions. They closed the deficit to just one in the 64th minute - as Conor McAleny's effort from range nestled into the bottom corner to make it 3-2.
And with Liverpool having looked so likely to claim their first three points of the season earlier in the game, they squandered their lead in the 84th minute - after half-time substitute Tom Davies turned home from close range after goalkeeper Ryan Fulton had failed to deal with a long-range strike.
Strong starting sides from both teams
A number of notable names appeared on the teamsheet - with Tiago Ilori and Joao Carlos Teixeira both starting from the off for Liverpool, whilst young defender Mason Holgate made his debut for the hosts - having made a £1 million switch from Barnsley last week.
And with over 100 scouts in attendance for the clash, plenty of other youngsters had their chance to impress and potentially earn the prospect of a loan spell away in search of regular first-team football.
That they did, as both sides clattered into some thunderous tackles early on. Despite that, the game started rather evenly, with the first chance falling to the hosts - after a long ball in search of Sam Byrne released the striker into space. He held the ball up and waited for the support of Conor McAleny, but his shot from the edge of the box was blocked.
They almost took the lead rather less intentionally just a minute or so later, after Joe Maguire allowed Conor Grant to close him down inside his own box - and his attempted clearance rebounded back towards Ryan Fulton's goal - but he was aware enough to bring the ball under control.
The Reds soon regained their composure, as the clinical Jack Dunn tried his luck on a greasy surface from range - but his curled inside of the foot shot was saved comfortably after he failed to catch it quite as he'd have liked.
Michael Beale's men followed that up immediately as Dunn pressed high up the pitch to retrieve possession. He found Teixeira, who had a number of options at his disposal from the edge of the box, but opted to shoot rather than slip a team-mate into the box - and his effort was blocked.
Liverpool fire themselves into the lead from the spot
After an end-to-end start, Liverpool earned the perfect opportunity to open the scoring after 13 minutes, when Harry Wilson took Maguire's low cross into his feet and attempted to run beyond Holgate, who brought him down to concede a penalty-kick.
The Welshman, the youngest ever international for his country, buried his spot-kick from 12-yards to give the Reds the lead, though replays seemed to show the incident occured just outside of the area.
That gave the Reds some confidence and freedom going forward, as Wilson spun towards goal and tried his luck after Jordan Rossiter's pass through the channel - but with no clear opening ahead of him, he dragged the shot well wide.
But David Unsworth's side stood strong at the back and in turn did their utmost to get further up the pitch and create some chances of their own, though Antony Evans scuffed his effort from the far-post - which ended up being a comfortable save for Fulton.
Young Reds double their lead with stunning strike
As the rain continued to pour down in Southport, Sergi Canos had to undergo some treatment on a leg injury before returning to the pitch - and whilst on the sidelines, Teixeira almost fed a through ball for Dunn to run in one-on-one as the visitors continued to play some fluid and flowing attacking football.
And only a minute later, Liverpool doubled their lead. Again a product of excellent high pressing, Dunn and Rossiter picked up the ball from Holgate in the final third, before the former found Teixeira - who drove directly at the heart of the home side's defence. With options left and right, the Portuguese went alone and struck a sweet drive from 25-yards which zipped past Mateusz Hewelt and into the bottom corner.
As a result, they continued to enjoy the better of the game, knitting together some neat moves - though a questionable playing surface meant a number of promising attacks were unfortunately broken up.
The Reds were asked to defend resolutely at the back too, as Maguire threw himself into Evans' shot from the edge of the box, before Fulton held Callum Connolly's drive from the resulting throw-in.
Everton, however, were remarkably less secure at the back and seemed short of confidence - as Dunn came within a few inches away from making it three goals just past the half-an-hour mark. Rossiter seized upon a careless pass in the centre of the field, before teasing a delightful cross in front of the 'keeper - who only managed to palm it to his left, where Dunn could only bundle the ball off the width of the post.
And only a few minutes later - they narrowly survived another threatening attack, after Maguire got forward to reach Teixeira's flick at the byline. His low cross found Wilson 10 yards out, but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by an excellent defensive header.
Centre-back Daniel Cleary then had a header also cleared off the line from the following corner-kick, but Liverpool finally made it 3-0 from the second set-piece - as Cleary found an unmarked Canos just a few yards from goal, and he powered an unstoppable strike past Hewlet.
Everton net fortunate effort to give themselves hope
Yet after the third should logically have given the visitors breathing space, Everton began to grow into the game and Unsworth's side, who had been blown out of the water for much of the first-half, soon had a good opportunity to put themselves back into the equation.
Liverpool captain Cameron Brannagan conceded a free-kick in a central area, but Liam Walsh's attempt was dealt with by Fulton despite an awkward bounce just in front of him.
The pressing from Liverpool had often seen them take advantage of some poor passing from the hosts in the first-half, but on occasion it also left them exposed at the back - as it did just minutes before the break, Holgate's superb strike forcing a strong right-handed save from Fulton.
The goalkeeper was called into action from the subsequent corner too, getting low to turn away a dangerous effort - but in the 44th minute he was helpless to prevent Joe Williams dragging his side back into the game.
He caught his strike from 30-yards well, but it took a fortuitous deflection off of Cleary's head, which diverted the effort away from reach and into the top corner to give them some hope.
Changes from both sides at the break add extra life
A few substitutes at half-time added some much-needed vim and vigour for Everton, who switched to a back-three to quell Liverpool's threat down the flanks.
Both substitutes - Antonee Robinson and Tom Davies - threw themselves straight into the game as the hosts started on the front foot, but it was Liverpool who continued to create the clearer chances - as Dunn almost turned in from Rossiter's cross at the near post.
The resulting corner seemed a fairly easy save for Hewelt, but the curl took it past the goalkeeper and off the near post before bouncing into space and though Dunn was first to it, his powerful strike was palmed away after the 'keeper recovered well.
The derby finally exploded into some fire and passion in the 51st minute, after Cleary took exception to a late challenge from Davies - who was awarded a yellow card just seven minutes after entering the field of play.
The game soon resumed to normal business and Liverpool were forced into some brave defending as Rossiter put his body on the line to prevent Williams' half-volley from the edge of the box troubling Fulton.
Tale of two halves as Everton turn up the heat
With the game having now become much more even, Pedro Chirivella came on in place of Canos after 61 minutes, with a number of the Reds' Spanish first-team contingent watching on from the stands.
But he and his team-mates were fortunate not to lead by only a single goal after Byrne spurned a free header from just yards out, mistiming his jump to direct it wide after peeling off of his marker Cleary.
That said - only a few minutes later, Everton showed more signs of life after McAleny raced ahead of Chirivella to meet a loose ball - before sending a well-hit effort along the floor and into Fulton's far corner, narrowing the Reds' lead further.
Suddenly, Liverpool found themselves under some real pressure for the first time in the game - and the home side pushed for an equaliser with 20 minutes remaining, but they kept them at bay well.
Beale's men, who had dominated so comfortably before the break, themselves attempted to put their opponents' fight-back to an end as the game became a tight affair - but neither side could create too many chances as they fought intensely for possession.
Wilson, having netted a 93rd minute winner in one of the last season's two meetings between the two clubs, tried his best to put the tie to bed from distance - but his shot flew well over the crossbar.
And immediately up the other end, Everton should have pulled themselves level after substitute Shayne Lavery met Gethin Jones' right-sided cross, only to see Fulton block his shot and gratefully gather the loose ball.
Everton pull themselves back for a point
With chances at a premium in a tense final 10 minutes, Byrne did well to win a corner out of Tom Brewitt - who had replaced Ilori at the break - and after a few awkward clearances, Everton finally drew level - Davies beating Fulton from a few yards out after the shot-stopper, who had otherwise had a good night, could only parry Lavery's shot from range into the six-yard box.
The Reds had chance to restore their advantage from a free-kick after Wilson had been brought down 25 yards out, but Dunn's curled effort was a routine stop for Hewelt.
The hosts dealt with their remaining attacks in the closing minutes, though they were perhaps unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty after Randall clearly pulled back Holgate inside the box.
But the referee waved away the defender's claims before blowing the full-time whistle to bring to an end a memorable clash.