Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was the most disappointed by the red card of teen Amara Nallo in their 3-2 defeat against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Nallo was shown a straight red after hacking Johan Bakayoko in the 87th minute, only four minutes after he came from the bank for his senior debut in what was the first match that Liverpool did not win in the tournament of this season.
After the Red he became the youngest Liverpool player ever to be sent.
“It's cruel, but he has never played the first team football before and to make your debut in the Champions League is probably the most difficult,” said Slot.
“He interpreted the situation incorrectly and it is a big time to learn from. It is cruel if you think I am making my Champions League debut, but you go a few minutes later.
“A career is not always positive, it also has negatives and he must ensure that he plays in this competition again.”
That was a moment of a hectic night in Eindhoven, where all five goals were scored in the first half.
5-@PSV v Liverpool is the very first Champions League match ever that was aimless after 25 minutes, but saw five goals in the break. Ketchup. pic.twitter.com/q4bodekdmw
– Optajohan (@Optajohan) January 29, 2025
A much changed Liverpool led twice with a penalty by Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott's Tap-in, but PSV hit back through Bakayoko and Ismael Saibari before Ricardo Pepi's agile finish posted PSV in the first half stop time.
Liverpool had already secured a place in the round of 16 and finally ended at the top of the competition despite losing. Captain for the night Andy Robertson recognized the massacre of the last evening, with 18 games at the same time.
Liverpool still ended the group stage on top of the rankings with 21 points and will be one of the strong favorites on the way in the Knock Rounds.
Andy Robertson, captain for the night, said that the new Champions League group phase format “carnage” had produced on the last evening of action with 18 games, but was happy that Liverpool had done the job with seven consecutive victories.
“I'm glad our place is arranged,” he said. “All games created excitement one night. We know every size it was, our goal is always to reach the last 16 and then we see if we can continue.”
Liverpool plays Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest in the round of 16.
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