Arne Slot tips Liverpool youngster for first-team role after ‘impressive’ Champions League display

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot lauded the performance of 20-year-old midfielder James McConnell against PSV Eindhoven and emphatically ruled out a loan move for the former youth team player.

McConnell made his Champions League debut in the Netherlands on Wednesday night, catching the eye of his manager despite Liverpool's 3-2 defeat. The combative midfielder finished with a team-high four tackles while lining up alongside Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott.

Slot named a youthful XI for the dead rubber, leaving the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold on Merseyside. The Dutch boss conceded that several of the young players on display could be loaned out this month to gain more first-team exposure before adding: "There's definitely one that will not go out on loan: James McConnell.

"He is competitive in the training sessions we had, he is always very competitive. I'm not surprised [by how he played], but you always wonder how you will react at this level. James plays and is competitive. He definitely deserves credit for his performance today."

McConnell enjoyed a far better evening than his fellow youngster Amara Nallo. The 18-year-old centre-back was brought off the bench for his senior Liverpool debut a matter of minutes before collecting a straight red card.

"It is cruel," Slot lamented, "but he has never played first-team football yet and then to make your debut in the Champions League level is probably the hardest way. I think he misinterpreted the situation and it's immediately a problem at this level or Premier League level.

"It is a big moment for him to learn from, and it is cruel when you think ten minutes before the end, 'I'm making my debut in the Champions League', but a few moments later you go off with a red card."

McConnell defended his teammate. "I wouldn't say a nightmare, he's a top young defender, he's going to learn from it loads," the youngster told LFCTV. "He'll have many more experiences like this. Obviously his head's a bit down but it's part of the game in the end. He took one for the team and obviously got sent off."

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