Our Under-21s saw their Premier League Cup campaign brought to an end on Tuesday night after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.

The last-16 tie, which was played at Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park, saw Paul Hart name several first-team squad members in his starting line-up as the United youngsters contested their first competitive fixture of the calendar year.

Lee Erwin, Jordan Botaka, Tommaso Bianchi, Casper Sloth and Kalvin Phillips were among those in the visiting Leeds team, but a goal in the final minute of the first half from Liverpool’s Daniel Trickett-Smith which saw Liverpool book a place in the quarter-finals.

It was the Reds who had the evening’s first effort on target, with recent loan signing and once-capped England international defender Steven Caulker glancing a deep free-kick into the arms of Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

But clear-cut chances remained at a premium during the early exchanges as both goalkeepers remained untested.

Liverpool’s Trickett-Smith looped a speculative half-volley wide after latching onto a loose ball on the edge of the area, but that was the closest either side had come to breaking the deadlock in the opening half-hour.

United’s first attempt came through Erwin on 36 minutes – the Scottish forward taking Casper Sloth’s cross on his chest before dragging wide of Ryan Fulton’s far post on the turn from 18 yards out.

The game appeared to be opening up and Peacock-Farrell was called into action at the opposite end, beating away a low strike from Harry Wilson after the Liverpool youngster was found unmarked at the back post.

Leeds looked to end the first half on the front foot as Botaka lashed wide from a tight angle after being picked out inside the area, before Liverpool defender Corey Whelan almost headed a Lewie Coyle cross into his net – the ball rolling agonisingly wide of the post.

But it was from the resulting corner which Liverpool were able to open the scoring on the stroke of half-time. United sent men forward but got caught on the counter-attack as Trickett-Smith raced free before slotting calmly beyond Peacock-Farrell to take a slender lead into the break.

Liverpool began the second half strongly, too, with attacking full-back Whelan almost finding the net after sneaking in behind the United defence to meet a long ball over the top.

Leeds looked to respond and Erwin was denied by a sharp reaction save from Fulton to palm away what appeared to be a goal-bound cross from the left.

Liverpool continued their pursuit of a second, though, and threatened twice in the space of a minute as Wilson drilled over from distance before substitute Ovie Ejaria fired wide from the edge of the area.

Paul Hart made a triple change with 10 minutes remaining as his side chased an equaliser, with Lewis Walters, Chris Dawson and Luke Parkin all introduced in place of Erwin, Frank Mulhern and Botaka respectively.

And Dawson - making his first appearance of the season after successfully returning from a shoulder injury - threatened a last-minute equaliser as the ball rolled into his path on the edge of the area, but his low strike was blocked and Liverpool held on to seal their progression.

Under-21s team vs Liverpool: Peacock-Farrell, Coyle, Vann, Purver, Denton, Bianchi, Phillips, Sloth, Botaka (Parkin 79), Erwin (Walters 79), Mulhern (Dawson 79). Subs not used: Grimes, Stokes.