Ian Doyle with the talking points from Liverpool's UEFA Youth League clash against Villarreal at Kirkby on Tuesday afternoon

Liverpool were unable to capitalise on their dominance as they suffered an afternoon of UEFA Youth League frustration against Villarreal on Tuesday afternoon. The Reds under-19s wasted a number of chances during a one-sided second half as they were held to a goalless draw by the Spanish side at the Academy in Kirkby.

Finn Inglethorpe and substitute Erik Farkas had Liverpool's best chances while the home team had several strong shouts for a penalty turned away by the referee.

Rob Page's side remain unbeaten in the competition having followed an opening 2-2 draw at home to Atletico Madrid with an impressive 4-2 triumph at LASK in Austria last week.

Pepe proud as Reds denied

It was a save of which former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, prowling the touchline as head coach of Villarreal's youth team, would have been proud.

As the Reds pressed hard for the opener during the final quarter, a cross from the busy Oliver O'Connor on the right fell to Finn Inglethorpe, who had his initial shot blocked. The ball then broke for substitute Erik Farkas at the far post, only for Villarreal keeper Pablo Polo to make a superb stop with his legs at close range.

Small wonder the celebration from the shot-stopper immediately afterwards, with Liverpool not coming any closer to netting the goal their enterprising play in the second half deserved.

They were still knocking loudly on the door during additional time when forward Inglethorpe, who had earlier prodded a good opening wide, this time shot at Polo from close range with skipper Will Wright unable to capitalise on the rebound.

Liverpool finished with 26 shots on goal but only four were on target against Villarreal, who had won their previous two matches in the competition at Borussia Dortmund and home to Napoli and whose U19s last season reached the quarter-finals.

"We are so disappointed not to have won the game," said Page afterwards. "We have created enough chances to win three games of football, let alone one.

"But at this level it's about developing your ruthlessness. Our decision-making at times needs to improve, the message was winning as a team and not as individuals. But the minute we aren't creating chances is when I'd be worried."

Substitutes make a difference

As in Austria against LASK last midweek, Liverpool were sparked into life at half-time by a change of shape.

With the versatile O'Connor switching from left wing to right-sided defence and the busy midfielder AJ Yeguo once again introduced for right-back Lenix Conde, the Reds soon began to win the arm wrestle with 15-year-old Luca Eden again impressive as Villarreal were pushed back.

"Our full-backs had a lot of the ball in the first half and I wanted someone like Oli on the ball who is more of a winger, and with his athleticism to get forward as I knew we could get the ball wide," said Page.

"We brought AJ on and he made a difference. Him and Erik (Farkas), the last two European games they came on and had an impact on the game.

"It would be nice if they could give us that from the beginning, but that's part of their development that they need to not just be an impact player from the bench. Can they now do that for 90 minutes for us at this level?"

Pressing matters for Page

When Jurgen Klopp was in the Liverpool hotseat, the Academy teams made a point of replicating his preferred 4-3-3 formation so youngsters were best prepared for a call-up to the senior ranks.

Matters have changed somewhat since then. What hasn't, though, is the need to ensure the Kirkby hopefuls are primed for their first-team chance.

And for Page, that means imposing a strong pressing game, even if it doesn't quite follow Andoni Iraola's usual tactical template given the U19s were once again operating with two strikers in Wright and Inglethorpe.

"We started the game with a diamond as we had Finn and Will as two centre-forwards," said Page. "We are a better team when we play two up top, we have a more aggressive press and we play higher up the pitch.

"The way the gaffer (Andoni Iraola) and the first team play, we want to mirror that press as much as we can, and in transition when we have the ball we have more options and talented players behind the front two."

Liverpool continue their UEFA Youth League campaign on Wednesday, November 4 when they are at Fenerbahce in Istanbul (kick-off 11am).

LIVERPOOL U19s (4-3-1-2): Hall; Conde (Yeguo 46), Cisse, Ndiaye, Ayman; Upton, Eden (Farkas 71), O'Connor; Sonni-Lambie; W Wright, Inglethorpe. Subs: M Wright, Clarke, Huth, Cowley, Murray-Holme, Garin, Bradshaw. BOOKING: Upton.