Arne Slot has admitted that James McConnell has earned a chance in the first Liverpool team after having made an impression against PSV in the Champions League.
The Reds saw their record of 100 percent in Europe in Eindhoven as a much changed side lost 3-2 to their Dutch hosts. But there were many positive points for Slot, who had the opportunity to look at his squadron players after he chose to leave 12 senior stars from his traveling team.
McConnell was the chief of their chiefs of them, in which the Liverpool -boss revealed that he would now want him to stay. He must meet on Thursday with sports director Richard Hughes to discuss the last days of the window and which players can be allowed on loan.
Players such as Jayden Danns, Tyler Morton and Trey Nyoni – who were all shown on Wednesday evening, could go on loan for the second half of the season. “There is always a chance in life. And at the moment we have most of our players fit, so we will have this discussion tomorrow, I think between me and Richard (Hughes) about these players, “Slot explained.
McConnell, 20, was initially admitted to that group, but Slot has now said that his performance in the Netherlands had thrown a key.
Slot added: “But there is certainly one that will not go on loan: James McConnell. I really liked him today. Perhaps the end result today would be good for him to play (elsewhere), but he is a player who has not played much for the past six or seven months because he was injured for a while. He made a big impression on me today.
“He is competitive in the training sessions we had, he is always very competitive. I am not surprised (by how he played), but you always wonder how you will respond to this level.
“James plays and is competitive. He definitely deserves the honor for his performance today. “
Amara Nallo was another young person who came up against PSV, but lasted only four minutes after he was shown a red card for refusing a goalscores opportunity. And lock admitted that his resignation should be difficult to see as a learning curve for the 18-year-old.
He continued: “It is cruel, but he has never played the first team of football and then to make your debut in the Champions League level is probably the most difficult way.
“I think he has misinterpreted the situation and it is immediately a problem at this level or Premier League level.
“It's a big moment for him to learn from, and it's cruel when you think 10 minutes before the end:” I make my debut in the Champions League, “but a few moments later you leave with a red card.”
Liverpool took the lead in the Philips Stadium via a Cody Gakpo penalty against his former team before the hosts equalized shortly thereafter. Harvey Elliott placed the Reds in the front again, before two goals from PSV in the first half of the stopping time gave them a lead that they would not give up.
Despite the defeat, Barcelona's draw with Atalanta ensured that Liverpool was still at the top of the group stage. They will now skip the play-off round before being confronted in the last 16 opposite one of Brest, Monaco, PSG or Benfica.
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