Liverpool season ended after remarkable comeback sparks Tottenham Hotspur drama

Liverpool saw their Premier League 2 campaign end in dramatic fashion when they were beaten on penalties at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening.

The Reds' under-21 side fought back from 3-1 down to force a 3-3 draw only to go down 5-4 in a tense penalty shoot-out in their play-off quarter-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Barry Lewtas was without a number of key players such as Kaide Gordon, James McConnell, Jayden Danns, Melkamu Frauendorf and Trent Kone-Doherty, with 17-year-old winger Kieran Morrison handed only his second start at this level.

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But a young Liverpool side had the perfect start when they went ahead on 11 minutes, Lewis Koumas beginning and ending a move that saw Trey Nyoni release James Norris - back from a loan spell at Tranmere Rovers - to cross low from the left for Koumas to score.

Tottenham, though, equalised on 26 minutes when Nyoni was dispossessed by Jamie Donley who, spotting Liverpool goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek off his line, fired home a superb shot from 40 yards. And the hosts were ahead 10 minutes later with Donley finding Tyrese Hall, who finished confidently inside the area.

Nyoni solicited a good save from Tottenham goalkeeper Luca Gunter shortly afterwards, but the Londoners extended their lead two minutes into the second half when Will Lankshear headed down a cross for Hall to convert his second.

Donley then struck the crossbar but the remainder of the second half belonged to Liverpool, with Norris and Koumas both close before a strong run and cross from Josh Davidson forced an own goal from Alfie Dorrington on 72 minutes. And the Reds levelled 10 minutes later when Norris snatched the ball off George Abbott and thrashed a shot into the far corner.

Gunter stopped efforts from Morrison and Koumas late on before an extra-time period in which both teams tired. In the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Norris was the only player to see his shot saved as Tottenham, who had finished top in the regular Premier League 2 season, progressed to a semi-final against Chelsea.

LIVERPOOL U21s: Mrozek; Miles, Nallo, Pinnington, Norris; Pilling, Davidson, Laffey (Stephenson 71); Morrison, Nyoni (Lucky 106), Koumas. Subs: O Kelly, Spearing. BOOKINGS: Nallo, Norris.