Liverpool U19s complete remarkable comeback to progress in UEFA Youth League

Liverpool stormed back from two goals down to defeat Red Bull Salzburg and secure automatic passage to the UEFA Youth League last-16.

Needing only a draw to win Group E in the continental under-19 competition, the Reds found themselves facing the play-off round instead as goals from Luka Sucic and Tobias Anselm put Salzburg top of the standings.

However, a spirited second-half fightback and goals from Harvey Elliott, Thomas Hill and Jack Bearne ensured Barry Lewtas' side finished above the Austrians by three points.

But there was a moment of controversy as Elliott argued with Elijah Dixon-Bonner over who should take the penalty that sparked the comeback.

It was a picturesque setting for the Reds' final group match, with snow-capped mountains towering over the Untersberg-Arena in Grodig, to the south of Salzburg.

Only the group winners progress directly to the last-16 in the Youth League, with second-placed teams having to go through a play-off round.

And perhaps Liverpool's defenders were guilty of admiring the scenery when they fell behind just 10 minutes into the contest.

Their keeper Ben Winterbottom had already been called into action to make a block to deny Karim Adeyemi but there was nothing he could do moments later.

Centre-half Sepp Van den Berg misjudged a long ball played over the defence and Sucic was one of three Salzburg players who'd breached the Liverpool defence to prod home.

And things got worse for Liverpool 13 minutes later, when Winterbottom saved well initially to deny Adeyemi but succeeded only in pushing the ball out to Anselm to tuck home from close range on the rebound.

At that stage, Liverpool were looking at second place in the group and an additional play-off game prior to the last-16, but they were much better after the break.

Elliott appealed for a penalty after Leighton Clarkson played him in but referee Fran Jovic wasn't moved.

But it was a clear spot-kick when Dixon-Bonner was taken out by Salzburg goalkeeper Daniel Antosch when trying to get on the end of a cross.

Cue a disagreement between Elliott and Dixon-Bonner over who was going to take the penalty. Dixon-Bonner appeared to have won the debate but the Liverpool bench said Elliott should take it.

Luckily, he made no mistake, tucking the ball into the bottom corner before collecting a yellow card for shoving Antosch into the net while trying to retrieve the ball.

Liverpool levelled with 11 minutes remaining when a cross from the left was flicked on by Hill, whose looping header gained enough elevation to clear Antosch and drop into the net.

A draw would have been sufficient for Liverpool to top the group on head-to-head record but they made absolutely sure with the last kick of the game.

Bearne slid in deep into stoppage time to cap the comeback after Layton Stewart teed him up.