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17 hours ago
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Liverpool lost their 100% record in the Champions League but you suspect Arne Slot will be over the disappointment before the team’s flight lands back on Merseyside. PSV Eindhoven secured the victory they needed to guarantee a playoff place with a rousing comeback against a youthful Liverpool side, who had debutant Amara Nallo sent off four minutes after his introduction.
Nallo’s misfortune – the 18-year-old defender looked distraught after receiving a straight red for denying Johan Bakayoko a clear goalscoring opportunity – tainted an encouraging display from Liverpool’s youngsters. But Slot’s side retained top spot in the table regardless of defeat. And, as the Liverpool head coach admitted beforehand, the final placing hardly matters when his team are guaranteed to face the 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th placed side in the last 16.
Former PSV favourite Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson were the only players retained from Saturday’s starting lineup against Ipswich. Liverpool had earned the right to rest regulars ahead of the weekend trip to Bournemouth, a key game that Slot admitted was on his mind when planning for PSV, although Darwin Núñez was an enforced absentee after falling ill on the day of the game. His place in attack went to Jayden Danns, who became the youngest player to make his full debut for Liverpool in a European Cup/Champions League fixture aged 19 years and 13 days.
It is testament to the work being done from academy to senior level at Liverpool that Slot’s makeshift, youthful side were still recognisable in style. Danns and James McConnell both impressed in a rollercoaster of a first half although it was an old head in the centre of defence who influenced the visitors’ assured start. Robertson took Virgil van Dijk’s position and captain’s armband for the night. He must have taken distribution tips from Van Dijk too as he dropped a series of pinpoint deliveries behind the PSV defence.
Conor Bradley and Gakpo both almost capitalised on long Robertson passes before the Scotland captain sprayed another fine ball to Federico Chiesa on the right wing. Mauro Júnior regained possession and gave it to Joey Veerman to complete the clearance. The PSV midfielder was far too casual, however, and took a heavy first touch inside his penalty area that invited Chiesa to intercept. Veerman’s second touch wiped out the Italy international, who required lengthy treatment, and resulted in a clear penalty. Gakpo sent Walter Benítez the wrong way from the spot and raised his hands in apology to his former club. The contest had lift off.
The hosts hit back for the first time with an exquisite goal from Bakayoko. Released into the Liverpool area by a deft touch from striker Ricardo Pepi, the winger put both Robertson and Jarell Quansah on their backsides with a dummy and curled an unstoppable finish inside Caoimhín Kelleher’s right-hand post.
Liverpool retook the lead five minutes later when Gakpo turned Wataru Endo’s long ball into the path of Chiesa, whose low drive was parried into the path of Harvey Elliott by Benítez. The midfielder, who scored the winner against Lille last week, made no mistake from close range.
Back came PSV against a vulnerable Liverpool defence and an exposed Bradley at right back. The visitors wanted a foul when Endo was dispossessed by Tygo Land in central midfield. Referee Tobias Stieler was not interested and Veerman released Ismael Saibari inside the box with a perfectly-weighted pass. The left winger lashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of Kelleher’s net.
PSV profited down their left again to take the lead in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time. Mauro Júnior broke into the area and played a low cross towards Pepi. The delivery deflected off Bradley, diverting it away from both the striker and Robertson, and sailed inside the far corner.
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PSV came into the game with a chance of finishing in the top eight, the playoff places or the elimination zone. The fightback underlined that the occasion was of greater importance to Peter Bosz’s team.
Gakpo was given a rousing reception from all four sides of the Philips Stadion when he was replaced by Tyler Morton early in the second half.
With Slot introducing more young talent and PSV seemingly content to protect their advantage, the game unsurprisingly petered out following the late first-half flurry. Morton made a superb block to prevent Pepi adding a fourth from a PSV counterattack and also tested Benítez from distance. That was a rare threat from Liverpool in the second half. Their task became even more difficult when Nallo accidentally clipped Bakayoko as they pursued a long ball over the top and was shown red.
