Match report: Liverpool lose at PSV Eindhoven but top UCL league phase

Team

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.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Endo, Chiesa, Gakpo (Morton, 51), Elliott, Tsimikas, Robertson (Nyoni, 64), McConnell, Danns (Nallo, 83), Quansah, Bradley.

Unused subs: Jaros, Davies, Kone-Doherty, Mabaya, Morrison, Norris.

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 by 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.