Liverpool forced into January transfer U-turn as Arne Slot confirms imminent talks

Liverpool's cleanable Champions League grounds was ended with decision to PSV, but a much-changed XI inactive gave manager Arne Slot plentifulness to ponder up of the transportation deadline

Arne Slot has admitted James McConnell has earned a accidental successful the Liverpool archetypal squad aft impressing against PSV successful the Champions League.

The Reds saw their 100 per cent grounds successful Europe ended successful Eindhoven arsenic a much-changed broadside mislaid 3-2 to their Dutch hosts. But determination were plentifulness of positives for Slot, who got a accidental to look astatine his squad players aft opting to permission 12 elder stars retired of his travelling squad.

McConnell was main among them arsenic acold arsenic Slot was concerned, with the Liverpool brag revealing helium would present similar him to stay. He is owed to conscionable with sporting manager Richard Hughes connected Thursday to sermon the last days of the model and which players could beryllium allowed to permission connected loan.

Players similar Jayden Danns, Tyler Morton and Trey Nyoni - who each featured connected Wednesday night, could spell retired connected indebtedness for the 2nd fractional of the season. “There’s ever a accidental successful life. And astatine the infinitesimal we person astir of our players acceptable truthful we volition person this treatment time I deliberation betwixt maine and Richard (Hughes) astir these players,” Slot explained.

McConnell, 20, was initially included successful that group, but Slot has present said his show successful the Netherlands had thrown a spanner successful the works.

Slot added: “But there’s decidedly 1 that volition not spell retired connected loan: James McConnell. I liked him a batch today. Maybe the extremity effect contiguous would beryllium bully for him to spell and play (elsewhere) but helium is simply a subordinate who hasn’t played a batch successful the past six oregon 7 months arsenic helium was injured for a while. He impressed maine a batch today.

“He is competitory successful the grooming sessions we had, helium is ever precise competitive. I’m not amazed (by however helium played), but you ever wonderment however you volition respond astatine this level.

“James plays and is competitive. He decidedly deserves recognition for his show today.”

Amara Nallo was different youngster to diagnostic against PSV, but lasted conscionable 4 minutes aft helium was shown a reddish paper for denying a extremity scoring opportunity. And Slot admitted that his dismissal was pugnacious to spot - but should service arsenic a learning curve for the 18-year-old.

He continued: “It is cruel, but helium has ne'er played first-team shot yet and past to marque your debut successful the Champions League level is astir apt the hardest way.

“I deliberation helium misinterpreted the concern and it’s instantly a occupation astatine this level oregon Premier League level.

“It is simply a large infinitesimal for him to larn from, and it is cruel erstwhile you deliberation 10 minutes earlier the end, ‘I’m making my debut successful the Champions League‘, but a fewer moments aboriginal you spell disconnected with a reddish card.”

Liverpool took the pb astatine the Philips Stadium done a Cody Gakpo punishment against his erstwhile team, earlier the hosts equalised soon after. Harvey Elliott enactment the Reds backmost successful front, earlier 2 goals from PSV successful first-half stoppage clip gave them a pb they wouldn’t relinquish.

Despite defeat, Barcelona ’s gully with Atalanta ensured Liverpool inactive topped the radical phase. They volition present skip the play-off circular earlier facing 1 of Brest, Monaco, PSG oregon Benfica successful the past 16.

Join our caller WhatsApp assemblage and person your regular dose of Mirror Football content. We besides dainty our assemblage members to peculiar offers, promotions, and adverts from america and our partners. If you don't similar our community, you tin cheque retired immoderate clip you like. If you're curious, you tin work our Privacy Notice.