ReactionJames McConnell: It was a really proud moment to start - but the result is disappointing

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By Glenn Price

A 'really proud' James McConnell reflected on his Champions League debut and expressed gratitude to Arne Slot.

McConnell made his first appearance in Europe's premier club competition by starting and completing Liverpool's clash at PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, with his performance receiving high praise from the head coach.

The Reds, who had already secured automatic qualification to the last 16, locked up top spot in the league-phase standings despite suffering a 3-2 defeat in the Netherlands on the final matchday.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com post-match, 20-year-old McConnell said: "It was a really proud moment to start the game and I was really excited.

"I think the boss has put faith in a lot of young lads tonight thanks to the work that all the senior lads have done over the course of the season to put us in such a good position.

"I'm really grateful to the boss and you've just got to try to take the opportunity when it comes to you, even if it was a tough game like that."

A much-rotated Liverpool went ahead at Philips Stadium after 28 minutes through a Cody Gakpo penalty before Johan Bakayoko equalised.

Harvey Elliott quickly restored the visitors' lead but finishes from Ismael Saibari and Ricardo Pepi just prior to half-time turned the contest around.

Slot's men were reduced to 10 players towards the end of the second half when Amara Nallo received a red card.

McConnell continued: "It was obviously a good experience. It was very disappointing, the result. We thought we could have got something from the game, especially at half-time we [thought] we should have been comfortably winning the game.

"But in the end we got punished and we [went] a man down in the last 10 minutes, so it was tough. But the lads put in a big shift and it is what it is in the end.

"If you ask the lads, we shouldn't have conceded all three goals really. Obviously we gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb in the second half when they made a lot of changes and we obviously had a lot of young lads on the bench. It was always going to be tough.

"The lads have done brilliantly to win the last seven games and I think we topped the group in the end.

"It's a great experience to learn from and it's always going to benefit us going forward."

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