Liverpool concluded the first stage of the 2024/25 Champions League as table-toppers, though not without losing their winning streak in the European topflight.

The Reds had won all seven of their UCL first stage games thus far, Arne Slot’s former domestic rivals PSV Eindhoven made sure the UCL table-toppers go into the knockouts aware of the fact that they are far from invincible.

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There were, however, some positives for Liverpool to take away from their first UCL defeat of the season, and the Reds boss addressed one of them after the game.

Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Jorrel Hato speaks out, Steven Gerrard update, Mohamed Salah 'exit'	Liverpool’s Champions League wins: crucial moments that won the titles	Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Jorrel Hato speaks out, Alexander-Arnold talks, Mohamed Salah exit

Speaking after last night’s Champions League game, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot confirmed that young midfielder James McConnell would not be sent out on loan for the rest of the season amid the ongoing January transfer window.

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Last night’s appearance made it three senior call-ups this season for the Newcastle-born Liverpool academy graduate.

McConnell has displayed enough quality in his fleeting appearances to warrant a spot in the current Liverpool setup, especially since the current Liverpool setup is particularly thin in the midfield department.



It’s well and good to have topped both the Premier League and Champions League tables at the halfway point, but none would remember it and hand the Reds only ridicule if they didn’t go all the way in at least one of these tournaments.


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