Liverpool ended the Champions League league phase in top spot despite a 3-2 defeat away at PSV Eindhoven on the final matchday.
What evolved into a frantic first half at Philips Stadium on Wednesday night saw the Reds twice take the lead, first via a penalty from Cody Gakpo – at the home of his former club – and then Harvey Elliott.
Johan Bakayoko and Ismael Saibari equalised for the Eredivisie hosts, however, and Ricardo Pepi’s close-range strike took them in front in added time.
There were no further additions to the scoresheet after the break, halting Liverpool’s 100 per cent record in the opening stage at the last hurdle.
Arne Slot’s men will resume the Champions League campaign in the last 16 in March against one of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest.
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Jayden Danns made his first start at senior level for Liverpool and Federico Chiesa was also part of the attack as Slot made nine changes.
Andy Robertson took the captain’s armband and lined up at centre-back.
First half
The teams emerged for the league-phase finale to the backdrop of a din inside Philips Stadium, a venue the Reds last visited back in 2008.
A lively start only gave way to snatches of chances at either end, with Chiesa firing one decent effort from outside the area into the gloves of PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
The Italian was unable to make the most of space right of goal when later picked out by Elliott, before Joey Veerman swerved a good free-kick just too high of Caoimhin Kelleher’s net.
Chiesa had been an energetic presence throughout the early phases and that paid dividends for the visitors prior to the half-hour.
His latest foray along the right-hand side was partially dealt with PSV, but the home team were caught playing out and Chiesa’s press on Veerman drew a foul inside the box.
Elliott immediately swiped the loose ball past Benitez but the referee pulled play back to award a penalty, which Gakpo calmly stroked into the bottom right corner.
Liverpool’s lead was short-lived, though. From a lofted pass into their area, Pepi’s deft flick teed up Bakayoko, who feinted as Robertson and Jarell Quansah slid in and clipped a clinical effort inside the left post.
A frenzied end to the half ensued.
Elliott restored the Reds’ advantage on 40 minutes. He tucked home a rebound as Chiesa’s angled hit was pushed out by Benitez after productive hold-up play by Gakpo through the middle.
Yet, it was PSV who were in front at the interval. Saibari thumped a second equaliser high past Kelleher and, in added time, Pepi provided the slightest of touches from yards out to turn Mauro Junior’s low cross over the line.
Second half
The first notable incident of the second period was the withdrawal, six minutes in, of Gakpo – who was treated to a vocal tribute from the home crowd as he departed to the bench.
Clear chances were drying up, though, with Chiesa closest for Liverpool when he tried an ambitious curler from distance that drifted over the upright.
Trey Nyoni followed Tyler Morton as a substitute and in doing so became the youngest player ever to represent the Reds in European competition, aged 17 years and seven months.
Nyoni’s introduction for Robertson also saw Wataru Endo replace the latter both as the skipper and in the left centre-back position in defence.
Heading towards the final quarter-hour, Morton made an outstanding block tackle inside his own box to prevent Saibari from extending PSV’s advantage.
Amara Nallo was brought on for his senior Liverpool debut in the final minutes but unfortunately within moments received a straight red card for a rash challenge as Bakayoko tried to reach a pass in behind.
PSV saw the result out from there, and might have added more, though the inaugural Champions League league phase concluded with the Reds top of the pack and safely into the Round of 16.
liverpoolfc.com
