As Jordan Rossiter walked onto the Emirates pitch last night to make his Premier League debut, his regular Liverpool under-21 team-mates suffered defeat at the hands of Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

The young Royals remain unbeaten following a 2-1 win against Sunderland and a hard-earned draw away to Middlesbrough, and goals from Andrija Novakovich and Rowan Liburd gave them the three points over the Reds.

Michael Beale's squad, on the other hand, remain winless, despite performing very well last term, when they came close to winning the title.

Liverpool were impressive in their first game against Chelsea but eventually came out defeated after a 94th minute goal.

Most recently, Beale looked on as his youngsters took a commanding 3-0 lead against local rivals, Everton in the mini-derby. But the Blues managed to claw their way back into the game, equalising late on to take a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw.

Reds start strong side but second-best to Reading early on

Andrew Firth began in between the sticks for Liverpool, with Ryan Fulton travelling with the first team to London for the Premier League encounter against Arsenal.

Corey Whelan got the nod at right-back ahead of Conor Randall whilst Tiago Ilori continued in defence as he fights to regain fitness. Dan Cleary and Joe Maguire also took their regular places in defence.

Irishman Alex O'Hanlon was partnered in midfield by Cameron Brannagan, while Joao Carlos Teixeira played further forward in midfield. The front line was made up Ryan Kent, Harry Wilson and the ever impressive Sergi Canos.

Despite the Reds' strength, Reading started well in the first half, with their latest summer addition, Liburd, forcing the Liverpool defence into disarray. 

But Portuguese defender Ilori demonstrated his first-team credentials in the first-half as he twice cleared the ball away, following mistakes from Maguire on both occasions.

Although Reading were on top for most of the first half, Liverpool did have chances too, with Teixeira wriggling away from the on-rushing Royals, although Sean Long managed a last ditch tackle to deny the playmaker what would have been a well-worked goal.

Hosts strike first through Novakovich

The two teams again exchanged blows, with Conor Shaughnessy coming close after testing the hands of young Firth.  Tariqe Fosu caused problems for Maguire down the right, but Liverpool quickly responded with chances of their own, through the fantastic work of Wilson, and later Canos, who saw his header beat the Reading keeper, but agonisingly fall onto the roof of the net.

Liverpool came close again, this time Kent showing his promise through a scintilating free-kick. However, the move backfired, with Reading breaking in a rapid fashion, leaving Novakovich free to calmly knock the ball past Firth to make it 1-0.

Reading double their lead through good play

The lead was soon doubled when Pierce Sweeney got on the end of a set piece, but it was Liburd who got the final touch to send the Royals into the break with a two goal advantage.

Stuart Moore was tested more often between the sticks during the second-half, most notably from Brannagan, who saw his shot well saved from close distance.

Liverpool were given a life line late on, when Moore punched the ball into his own goal. But although the pressure on the hosts' defence continued, Moore soon redeemed himself with a tremendous double save - as the visitors suffered their second less in three.

Beale's youngsters next play in a couple of weeks' time as they take on Middlesbrough, while Reading will come up against Tottenham Hotspur.