Highly-rated Nigeria-eligible teenagers Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Josh Abe came off the bench to make their unofficial debuts for Liverpool as the Reds defeated Sunderland 4-2 in a pre-season friendly at GEODIS Park in Nashville.
Ndukwe, Abe, Rio Ngumoha and Josh Sonni-Lambie were all named in Liverpool's travelling squad to the United States.
A summer signing from Austria Vienna, Ndukwe initially started on the bench but was thrust into the action just ten minutes into the game following an injury to centre-back Joe Gomez.
Liverpool came from behind to beat Sunderland after a dominant second-half display.
Kieran Morrison gave the Reds the lead in the 12th minute, but Sunderland responded through Enzo Le Fée in the 28th minute and Timur Tutierov four minutes into the second half to take control.
Dominik Szoboszlai restored parity in the 56th minute before Federico Chiesa fired Liverpool ahead, with Lewis Koumas sealing the victory late on.
Eight days after celebrating his 16th birthday, Josh Abe made his first appearance for Liverpool's senior team, replacing Morrison in the 67th minute.
Meanwhile, Sonni-Lambie, who has carved out a reputation for scoring spectacular goals for the youth teams, remained an unused substitute.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
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