Liverpool under-21s head coach Rob Page has questioned the scheduling that contributed to his team suffering a disappointing end to an otherwise encouraging EFL Trophy campaign.

Liverpool under-21s head coach Rob Page has criticized the fixture scheduling which led to his side enduring a deflating conclusion to what had been a promising EFL Trophy campaign.

The young Reds suffered a 4-0 defeat at League One pacesetters Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night to conclude Group H in third place. While the Terriers were capable of selecting a near full-strength XI, Liverpool were deprived of several crucial players owing to international call-ups.

Leading goalscorer Will Wright received his maiden England U19s summons, defender Prince Cisse was representing Wales U19s while attacking midfielder Erik Farkas is currently involved with the England U18s squad.

Liverpool's preceding two fixtures in the EFL Trophy this campaign - the penalty shoot-out success at Rochdale and the slender defeat to Doncaster Rovers - were both scheduled during the prolonged international break earlier in the season.

Page commented: "It's like we are fighting with one arm tied behind our back. I understand the principle of playing in this competition. We want to expose our lads to league opposition, but give us our best players.

"We have a couple of players on international duty who could have helped the team.

"Putting the game in the international window doesn't make sense to me. It's so frustrating. And that's why I'll never have a go at the lads who played, some of those Huddersfield players have been playing league football for years, they had one of the top scorers in League One playing. We're being asked to go out and have a level fight, but it's not even."

Liverpool were aware prior to kick-off that they could not advance to the knockout stages, having already been consigned to third place in the four-team group, with Huddersfield sitting at the summit.

The home side stormed into the lead after just 43 seconds through League One's second-top scorer Joe Taylor, and had extended their advantage to 3-0 by half-time. Liverpool showed greater resolve after the break, coming close to finding the net through Josh Sonni-Lambie and Luke Chambers.

"I thought there were a lot of positives from the game," said U21s head coach Page. "We were playing a team who are top of League One and had their strongest team they could play.

"I said to the players if they want to progress through and play league football, they have to have that ruthless mentality. The first 10 minutes are like a game a chess, and if we are going to hand them a goal inside 40 seconds like we did then it's going to make the game even harder.

"Huddersfield had about three opportunities in the first half and scored three goals. That's the ruthless mentality I keep drilling into the lads. They have to learn from it. They have to learn from being exposed to that ruthless mentality."

Page added: "The last third let us down a bit in the first half, second half we changed things slightly and I thought we took control of it. But they get an opportunity, ruthless, goal.

"It's great learnings for the players and that's why we are in this competition. We want them to expose them to players like that at the top of League One.

"The manner of the defeat I will accept because our work-rate was incredible. We need to be a bit more streetwise and that will make us better as a team and individuals. We just got beaten by a better team, and that's okay."