Adam Hammill scored a superb goal as a Liverpool XI were edged out 4-3 by Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground on Monday night.
John McMahon's young team gave a good account of themselves against the League One outfit and showed tremendous spirit.
Brazilian Vitor Flora and Hungarian Andras Simon were also on the mark for the Reds.
The Pirates start their League One campaign against Leyton Orient on Saturday and were a strong unit.
Rickie Lambert and Jo Kuffour put Paul Trollope's side 2-0 up but Hammill reduced the arrears with a superb strike.
Byron Anthony then made it 3-1 in the second half before the comeback began. Flora struck to make it 3-2 and Simon netted from a corner to make it 3-3.
However, Rovers stormed back and Anthony scored again to seal the victory.
McMahon told Liverpoolfc.tv: "When you score three goals away from home you think you should get something from the game, but we were just a bit sloppy defensively.
"Hammill scored an excellent goal and he was bright throughout and worked hard.
"The pleasing thing is we managed to give everybody a game and we didn't pick up any injuries.
"We played a few of the lads in different positions just to give them some experience, and this game against a good strong team will have done them a world of good."
Liverpool XI: David Martin, Stephen Darby (Captain) (Ryan Crowther 58), Steven Irwin, Daniel Ayala (Nathan Eccleston 58), Chris Mavinga (Victor Palsson 58), Vincent Weijl (Vitor Flora 45), Adam Hammill (Daniel Pacheco 58), Emmanuel Mendy, Nikola Saric (Jordy Brouwer 58, Andras Simon, Alex Kacaniklic.
John McMahon's young team gave a good account of themselves against the League One outfit and showed tremendous spirit.
Brazilian Vitor Flora and Hungarian Andras Simon were also on the mark for the Reds.
The Pirates start their League One campaign against Leyton Orient on Saturday and were a strong unit.
Rickie Lambert and Jo Kuffour put Paul Trollope's side 2-0 up but Hammill reduced the arrears with a superb strike.
Byron Anthony then made it 3-1 in the second half before the comeback began. Flora struck to make it 3-2 and Simon netted from a corner to make it 3-3.
However, Rovers stormed back and Anthony scored again to seal the victory.
McMahon told Liverpoolfc.tv: "When you score three goals away from home you think you should get something from the game, but we were just a bit sloppy defensively.
"Hammill scored an excellent goal and he was bright throughout and worked hard.
"The pleasing thing is we managed to give everybody a game and we didn't pick up any injuries.
"We played a few of the lads in different positions just to give them some experience, and this game against a good strong team will have done them a world of good."
Liverpool XI: David Martin, Stephen Darby (Captain) (Ryan Crowther 58), Steven Irwin, Daniel Ayala (Nathan Eccleston 58), Chris Mavinga (Victor Palsson 58), Vincent Weijl (Vitor Flora 45), Adam Hammill (Daniel Pacheco 58), Emmanuel Mendy, Nikola Saric (Jordy Brouwer 58, Andras Simon, Alex Kacaniklic.
