Arne Slot heavily impressed by Liverpool youngster James McConnell | OneFootball

Liverpool finished top of the Champions League group phase despite suffering a 3-2 defeat against PSV Eindhoven away from home on Wednesday night.

Having already secured qualification to the knock-out stages, Arne Slot decided to rest several key players for this game and gave chances to a raft of young and fringe players.

Liverpool, who had won their opening seven matches, led twice in the Netherlands but still ended up on the losing side.

Slot said after the game that he had been left heavily impressed by the performance of young midfielder James McConnell.

The 20-year-old started in midfield alongside Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott and produced an eye-catching performance.

With only a few days remaining in the January transfer window, Liverpool could look to send a few players, especially youngsters, out on loan.

Slot said in the press conference that he can confirm that McConnell will not leave the club before Monday’s transfer deadline.

McConnell has not played enough games in the past six or seven months due to injuries, and it would have made sense to send him out on loan. But Slot now feels that he can use him in the first team instead after his impressive performance against Eindhoven.

He said: “There is definitely one of them that will not go on loan – and I think you know which one I mean. James McConnell.

“I wouldn’t say definitely, but I liked him a lot today, so maybe now the end result today would be it’d be good for him to go somewhere and play.

“He was also a player that hasn’t played in the last six or seven months 90 minutes because he was injured for a while. He impressed me a lot today.”

McConnell made four tackles and three interceptions and made 85% accurate passes. He also won seven duels and showed great energy in the middle of the park throughout the game. His attitude was fantastic.

Meanwhile, in this new format, Liverpool will meet a team that finished 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th in the standings and qualified for the knockout phase play-offs. It means they are likely to face either Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest in the next round.