Liverpool discover four potential last-16 opponents after first Champions League defeat
PSV 3-2 LIVERPOOL: The Reds still finished top of the table ahead of Barcelona and will play either Brest, Monaco, PSG or Benfica - with those four teams forced to take part in the play-offs - in the last-16
by Chris McKenna · The MirrorJust a third defeat of the season for Arne Slot’s side but this will not matter in Liverpool’s trophy chase this season.
Slot had examined the complexities of this new Champions League format and decided finishing second instead of first would not put them on a tough road to Munich in May.
So his team selection showed even before they left Merseyside on Tuesday, with stars such as Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk left at home with their feet up as the Reds were already in the last 16.
Other than the young players who got valuable minutes, as well as debuts on Europe’s biggest stage, and Cody Gakpo’s nice return to his boyhood club PSV, this won’t be a match etched in the memory.
In their 35th game of the season, Slot’s side lost their 100 per cent European record in a five-goal affair that had drama but eyes were elsewhere on the continent. And, when Barcelona failed to beat Atalanta, the Reds held on to top spot in the 36-team league.
It was a dull start until a moment of madness before the half hour mark gave Liverpool a penalty. A shocking touch from Joey Veerman sparked Federico Chiesa into chasing down the ball and the PSV man kicked the Italian in a desperate attempt to clear.
Gakpo - who came through the youth ranks here to become a first-team star - stepped up to fire home the penalty. There was no celebration out of respect for the club he left in 2023 to join Liverpool and he was later serenaded by chants from the home fans when he went off in the second half.
Gakpo had asked to feature in the game and he was one of the few senior stars Arne Slot brought to Holland for a game which Liverpool didn’t need anything from. It was the makeshift centre-back pairing of Jarell Quansah and Andy Robertson which were done for the equaliser.
Johan Bakayoko sat them both down after he latched onto a lay off from Ricardo Pepi and fired in after 35 minutes. Elliott restored the Reds’ lead when he pounced on a good save from PSV keeper Walter Benitez from a Chiesa strike after Gakpo had done well to flick on a Robertson long ball forward.
PSV knew they had a place in a play-off round next month but couldn't do better than. Despite that, they were playing like a side keen to hand Liverpool their first defeat in Europe this season.
Ismael Saibari fired into the roof of the net to equalise on 45 minutes before a Mauro Junior cross went in off Conor Bradley and then the slightest of touches from Pepi to send the hosts in at the break in front. The second half was relatively drama free.
That was until Liverpool’s Amara Nallo was sent off for taking down Bakayoko just four minutes after coming on for his debut. It was harsh and unfortunate for the teenager.
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