It was always destined to be a night to remember for Arne Slot’s Liverpool rookies. One left Eindhoven with his head in his hands while his team-mate’s will be in the clouds.

For 18-year-old Amara Nallo, there was an outpouring of sympathy that a senior debut ended in a nightmare four-minute cameo resulting in a red card as PSV ended Liverpool’s flawless European record.

Contrast that with 20-year-old James McConnell, showered with praise from his manager, Slot declaring himself in possession of another accomplished midfielder for the Premier League and Champions League quest.

While Nallo may wish the senior players were not given the night off, McConnell endeavoured to show he is a worthy alternative even when the cavalry returns. Naturally, Nallo’s ill-fortune left the final impression.

Referee Tobias Stieler was not quite in Michael Oliver and Myles Lewis-Skelly territory when he dismissed the centre-back for a professional foul on Johan Bakayoko in the 88th minute of a game meandering towards a PSV victory.

Upon viewing the replay, there was more pity for a young player than outrage with the officials, the interpretation of the laws more ruthless than contentious.

Stieler certainly wins the award for cold-hearted referee of the year, although both coaches agreed he had no choice, even if it can be argued Jarell Quansah could have made ground to prevent a one-on-one with Caoimhin Kelleher.

Such is the brutality of elite sport, Nallo hoping the briefest taste of the Champions League is not his last. At least it is an experience he will never forget.

“Yeah, it is cruel,” said Slot. “He has never played first-team football. To make your debut in the Champions League is the hardest way of making a debut. He misinterpreted a situation. So it’s a big moment for him to learn from. A career is not always positive. There are negatives and now he has to fight hard to play a second game in the Champions League.”

The teenage centre-back can consider it part of the learning journey.

McConnell’s mood could not be more contrasting. Slot – usually more measured when discussing individual performances – could not contain his enthusiasm. “There’s definitely one [young player] that will not go out on loan: James McConnell,” said Slot.

“I liked him a lot today. Maybe the end result today would be good for him to go and play [elsewhere] but he is a player who hasn’t played a lot in the last six or seven months as he was injured for a while. He impressed me a lot today.

“I’m not surprised [by how he played], but you always wonder how you will react at this level. He definitely deserves credit for his performance today.”

Despite only his third Liverpool loss, there were other encouraging signs for Slot. Federico Chiesa completed a full match and was involved in both of Liverpool’s goals, winning a penalty for Cody Gakpo and forcing Walter Benitez’s save for Harvey Elliott to stroke in. They were part of a goal feast in the first half.

Unsurprised by the open game, perhaps Slot took his father’s observations about Liverpool’s preceding Champions League fixture too much to heart. How better to turn what was effectively a “dead rubber” into a joyride than make defending optional? Uefa will be thrilled that even the least consequential games in the new format are producing such open matches.

Initially, Liverpool’s nine changes had little impact when they had possession. Indeed, it was tempting to check the identity of the new centre-back Andy “van” Robertson in the early stages. The captain for the evening kept pinging 35-yard diagonal passes to Conor Bradley and Chiesa as if he had been studying videos of Virgil van Dijk’s distribution in his Eindhoven hotel room.

One such pass led to Liverpool’s opening goal, Chiesa’s run ending in a clumsy hoof to the ankle by Joey Veerman.

As Liverpool negotiated the first 35 minutes without keeper Kelleher being occupied, there was a tentative belief the back-up squad was just as impressive as the absentees.

Alas, not so for Slot. Once Eindhoven realised they were playing a second-string Liverpool there was an outbreak of pinball, the flaws of both defences obvious as the final 10 minutes of the first half yielded a further four goals.

Bakayoko put Robertson and Quansah on their backside to equalise, and two goals in first-half stoppage time gave the hosts an advantage they would not surrender.

Barcelona’s draw with Atalanta means Liverpool still finished top of the qualifying round. It bodes well for Slot that even his losses are not causing damage at the moment.

10:18 PM GMT

Liverpool through to last 16 as league phase winners

10:18 PM GMT

Standings in full after league phase

10:17 PM GMT

What comes next

On Friday the draw for the play-offs will take place. Then on Friday 21 February the draw for the round of 16 will happen.

In the last 16 Liverpool will face one of PSG, Benfica, Monaco or Brest, with those four sides finishing 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th respectively in the league phase. PSG, Benfica, Monaco and Brest will have to come through the play-offs.

PSV will face Feyenoord or Juventus in the play-offs so there could be an all-Dutch tie if PSV are drawn against Feyenoord.

10:10 PM GMT

Number one spot for Liverpool

10:08 PM GMT

The eight sides straight through to the last 16

10:07 PM GMT

Liverpool top of the Premier League and Champions League

10:05 PM GMT

Tonight’s results

Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic

Barcelona 2-2 Atalanta

Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Sparta Prague

Bayern Munich 3-1 Slovan Bratislava

Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk

Brest 0-3 Real Madrid

Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 AC Milan

Girona 1-2 Arsenal

Inter Milan 3-0 Monaco

Juventus 0-2 Benfica

Lille 6-1 Feyenoord

Manchester City 3-1 Club Brugge

PSV 3-2 Liverpool

RB Salzburg 1-4 Atletico Madrid

Sporting 1-1 Bologna

Sturm Graz 1-0 Leipzig

Stuttgart 1-4 PSG

Young Boys 0-1 Red Star

10:02 PM GMT

FT stats

Possession: PSV 53%-47% Liverpool

Shots: 12-9

Shots on target: 5-5

Corners: 9-2

Touches in opposition box: 30-28

10:00 PM GMT

Full-time

One last chance for Liverpool with a free-kick that they will send into the PSV box. Kelleher is up for it but PSV then counter. Kelleher races back towards his goal but the effort from Driouech misses the target, ending up in the side netting.

That is the final act of the match and PSV win 3-2. All five goals came in the first half. Liverpool finish top of the Champions League group phase despite losing tonight as Barcelona drew 2-2 at home against Atalanta, meaning Liverpool finish two points clear of Barcelona at the top. PSV are through into the play-offs.

09:57 PM GMT

90+4 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Into the final minute of added time we go.

09:56 PM GMT

90+3 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Babadi is denied as his header is saved on the line by Kelleher.

09:53 PM GMT

90 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Veerman sends in a corner but Liverpool are able to clear. PSV keep it alive and the ball is sent flashing across the box from the right-hand side of the penalty area but Liverpool clear again.

There will be five added minutes.

09:50 PM GMT

87 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Liverpool are down to 10 men. Nallo has only just come on but has been shown a straight red. He fouls Bakayoko and is deemed to be the last man, although it looked like Quansah would have been able to get across. VAR checks but sticks with the on-field decision of a red card.

09:49 PM GMT

85 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Bakayoko wins a corner off Quansah for the home side. Veerman sends in the delivery but Liverpool clear their lines.

09:46 PM GMT

83 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Liverpool are making a change as 19-year-old Danns is replaced by 18-year-old Nallo. Arne Slot has made only three of the five available changes but used up all three substitution slots so he cannot make any more changes now.

09:45 PM GMT

82 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Morton takes on a shot from range and gets good power on it but it is straight at Benitez.

09:42 PM GMT

79 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Chiesa goes down inside the PSV penalty area and wants a penalty but the referee shakes his head. Looking at the replays Ledezma stepped on Chiesa’s foot and we have seen those given but on this occasion no penalty is the final decision.

09:38 PM GMT

75 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

PSV are making a triple change as Nagalo, de Jong and Driouech come on for Saibari, Obispo and Pepi.

09:37 PM GMT

73 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Saibari has the chance to put PSV 4-2 up but Morton slides in with a crucial block to deny him inside the Liverpool penalty area.

09:33 PM GMT

70 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Obispo goes sliding in on Danns but not free-kick is given. The PSV centre-back does eventually get the ball but not before going through Danns, who stays down for a little bit but is back on his feet. Obispo has stayed down after that challenge but he eventually gets back to his feet.

09:31 PM GMT

68 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Til wins a corner off Endo for the home side. They take it short and then Bakayoko sends in a cross towards the far post but it is overhit and that is an absolute waste for the hosts.

09:29 PM GMT

66 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Elliott goes down inside the PSV wanting a penalty after a challenge from Saibari but ends up being booked for simulation.

Ledezma is on for Karsdorp for the hosts. I wonder why? Nothing to do with Karsdorp being on a yellow and lucky to have stayed on the pitch...

09:27 PM GMT

64 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Liverpool are making their second change as 17-year-old Trey Nyoni is coming on for Robertson, who hands the captain’s armband to Endo.

09:25 PM GMT

63 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Morton is into the book for cynically pulling Saibari back.

09:24 PM GMT

61 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Chiesa cuts in from the left and sends in a cross that ends up being a shot. It goes just over Benitez’s bar.

09:20 PM GMT

57 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Tsimikas is penalised for a foul on Bakayoko not far outside the Liverpool penalty area. Another perplexing decision, having not penalised Karsdorp for a clear foul just moments ago.

The free-kick is whipped across the face of the six-yard box but no PSV player can get near to the delivery.

09:18 PM GMT

55 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Chiesa pushes the ball ahead and Karsdorp, who is on a yellow card, clearly impedes him but no foul is given. Not only is Karsdorp lucky to concede the foul there, he then would have given the referee a decision to make already being on a yellow.

09:16 PM GMT

53 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Chiesa does brilliantly to drive forward towards the PSV box and he has Elliott in acres of space on the right-hand side of the box but Chiesa opts to go on his own and wastes the chance. The pass was 100% the right option but Chiesa was too selfish there. Liverpool do end up winning a corner but PSV deal with it.

09:15 PM GMT

50 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Liverpool are making a change as hometown boy Gakpo comes off to a standing ovation. He claps the whole stadium as he makes his way off and the reception he receives is magnificent. Morton is on for him.

09:11 PM GMT

48 mins: PSV 3 Liverpool 2

Elliott tries to feed a ball forward into the path of Chiesa but the pass is slightly too heavy and Benitez is able to get to it first.

09:08 PM GMT

Second half

We are back under way.

09:02 PM GMT

HT stats

Possession: PSV 54%-46% Liverpool

Shots: 7-8

Shots on target: 3-4

Corners: 2-1

Touches in opposition box: 15-17

08:57 PM GMT

Tonight’s fixtures

Aston Villa 2-2 Celtic

Barcelona 0-0 Atalanta

Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Sparta Prague

Bayern Munich 1-0 Slovan Bratislava

Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

Brest 0-1 Real Madrid

Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 AC Milan

Girona 1-2 Arsenal

Inter Milan 2-0 Monaco

Juventus 0-1 Benfica

Lille 2-1 Feyenoord

Manchester City 0-1 Club Brugge

PSV 3-2 Liverpool

RB Salzburg 0-3 Atletico Madrid

Sporting 0-1 Bologna

Sturm Graz 1-0 Leipzig

Stuttgart 0-3 PSG

Young Boys 0-0 Red Star

08:53 PM GMT

Half-time

There is the half-time whistle and PSV lead 3-2 despite being 0-1 and 1-2 down.

08:51 PM GMT

GOAL! PSV take the lead just before half-time

Five goals in this first half yet we are quite far over over the allotted four minutes? Junior sends in a cross from the left-hand side of the box, which takes a small deflection off Bradley. Pepi then gets the smallest of touches on and it goes past everyone, ending up in the far corner. VAR is checking though to see if Pepi was offside but the goal is given after a very tight call. That goal was scored in the sixth added minute yet four minutes were added on.

08:48 PM GMT

45+2 mins: PSV 2 Liverpool 2

Liverpool have a free-kick out on the left after Veerman clattered into Danns, which earns him a yellow card. Karsdorp is also booked for dissent as he believed he should have been given a free-kick in the build-up.

Tsimikas sends it in and Quansah wins the header but cannot send it goalwards.

08:47 PM GMT

45 mins: PSV 2 Liverpool 2

Four added minutes.

08:45 PM GMT

GOAL! Saibari brings PSV level

The hosts are back ahead but Liverpool are furious with the referee. They want a foul on Endo before he lost possession and to add to that the referee also got in his way as well before the Japanese midfielder lost the ball. PSV win the ball without a free-kick being given and Veerman plays it forward into the path of Saibari, who beats Kelleher with a shot into the top of the net. Despite Liverpool’s protestations, the goal stands.

08:40 PM GMT

GOAL! Elliott puts Liverpool back ahead

Liverpool are back in the lead. Endo plays a high ball forward into Gakpo, who holds off the defender and lays it across whilst being fouled. Chiesa ends up sending in a stinging first-time shot from the edge of the shot, which Benitez can only parry into the path of Elliott, who slots home into the far corner. Elliott scored in the Champions League last week against Lille and has another Champions League goal tonight. VAR takes quite a while to check Elliott was onside but it was pretty clear from the first replay that he was onside.

08:38 PM GMT

37 mins: PSV 1 Liverpool 1

Bradley’s cross from the right-hand side of the box is blocked by PSV captain Boscagli and Liverpool have a corner, which is sent into the near post but PSV can clear.

08:35 PM GMT

GOAL! Bakayoko equalises for PSV

The home side equalise. Veerman plays a ball in behind to Pepi, who chests it back into the path of Bakayoko. He fakes the shot first time, which sends two Liverpool players sliding to try and block it, taking both of them out of it. He then fires it into the far corner and the hosts are level.

08:33 PM GMT

32 mins: PSV 0 Liverpool 1

Champions League debutant Land fouls Gakpo not far outside the PSV box and Liverpool have the chance to send it in from a good area. Tsimikas sends it in and the ball is headed towards the edge of the box, where Robertson keeps it alive. It is recycled back to Elliott, who sends in another cross and Benitez comes out of his goal to catch the delivery. He is going to need some treatment as he landed awkwardly.

08:28 PM GMT

GOAL! Gakpo gives Liverpool the lead

Gakpo sends Benitez the wrong way and slots it into the bottom right corner. He just calmly slotted that one away. No celebration from Gakpo against his former side. Liverpool have the lead in the driving rain.

08:27 PM GMT

PENALTY LIVERPOOL!

The referee points to the spot but Elliott is furious as he smashed the ball into the net moments after the the whistle was blown. Veerman is the guilty man, fouling Chiesa inside his own box as he attempted to clear the ball. Chiesa is down receiving some treatment after that foul. Gakpo will step up to take the penalty against his hometown club.

08:25 PM GMT

25 mins: PSV 0 Liverpool 0

Bakayoko lays the ball across the edge of the Liverpool box into the path of Veerman, who takes the shot on first time, but he mis-hits his shot.

08:19 PM GMT

19 mins: PSV 0 Liverpool 0

Tsimikas is penalised for a foul on Bakayoko not far outside the Liverpool penalty area, presenting PSV with a decent opportunity here. Veerman goes for goal from the free-kick and his effort goes just over Kelleher’s bar. The Liverpool keeper was right underneath it and had it covered if it had been lower.

08:17 PM GMT

16 mins: PSV 0 Liverpool 0

Elliott moves forward from halfway in acres of space and Chiesa is calling for it on the right in acres of space as well. Elliott should perhaps release it to him earlier but eventually picks him out. Chiesa takes too long to get the shot away on the right-hand side of the box and ends up slipping as he hits the ball. It ends up being a cross more so than a shot and PSV clear to the edge of their box, where Danns takes on a shot which is blocked.

08:11 PM GMT

11 mins: PSV 0 Liverpool 0

PSV have the first corner of the night as Robertson plays it behind. They then win another corner from the other side as the last touch came off Bradley, who looked like he was fouled.

The second corner is sent in and the last touch comes off Til, going behind for a goal-kick.

08:09 PM GMT

8 mins: PSV 0 Liverpool 0

Gakpo nearly gets on the end of a ball in behind but it is just too long for him and runs through to Benitez. The offside flag actually goes up against Gakpo so even if he had got on the end of it and found the net it would not have counted. Robertson was the man again with a great pickout in behind.

08:06 PM GMT

5 mins: PSV 0 Liverpool 0

PSV gift it away deep in their own half and Chiesa lets rip from range. He hits the shot powerfully but it is straight at Benitez in the PSV goal.

08:05 PM GMT

4 mins: PSV 0 Liverpool 0

Bradley will be annoyed at himself there. He makes a terrific run in behind the PSV defence and Robertson picks him out beautifully with a lofted ball over the top. Bradley’s first touch is a little heavy and that allows the defender to nip in and clear. Had he taken a better first touch he would have had a great opportunity to score.

08:03 PM GMT

3 mins: PSV 0 Liverpool 0

Saibari has PSV’s first effort of the night after Bakayoko laid it back to him but his shot from outside the box would have been more apt on a rugby pitch. Perfect for a rugby conversion, the opposite on a football field as he blazed it well over the bar.

08:02 PM GMT

1 min: PSV 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool make a positive start inside the first minute as Tsimikas sends in a cross from the left into the box but he cannot pick out a teammate.

08:00 PM GMT

Kick-off

We are under way.

07:56 PM GMT

Kick-off fast approaching

Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at the Philips Stadion.

07:53 PM GMT

Reminder of the teams

PSV: Benitez, Karsdorp, Boscagli, Obispo, Junior, Bakayoko, Land, Veerman, Saibari, Pepi, Til.

Substitutes: Drommel, Schiks, de Jong, Driouech, Babadi, Kuhn, Ledezma, Nagalo, Abed.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Robertson, Tsimikas, Endo, McConnell, Chiesa, Elliott, Gakpo, Danns.

Substitutes: Jaros, Davies, Kone-Doherty, Mabaya, Nallo, Morrison, Norris, Morton, Nyoni.

07:49 PM GMT

Koeman in the house

07:47 PM GMT

Tunes

07:40 PM GMT

Liverpool gearing up

07:39 PM GMT

PSV recent results

PSV 3-2 NAC (Eredivisie)

Red Star 2-3 PSV (Champions League)

PEC Zwolle 3-1 PSV (Eredivisie)

PSV 5-4 Excelsior (Dutch Cup)

A recent loss for PSV against one of Arne Slot’s clubs during his playing career PEC Zwolle, where he spent the majority of his career and where he retired.

07:35 PM GMT

Andy Robertson captains Liverpool tonight

The Scotland captain looks set to move inside from his customary left-back position into centre-back tonight with Kostas Tsimikas also named in the starting XI.

07:31 PM GMT

Liverpool recent results

Liverpool 4-1 Ipswich (Premier League)

Liverpool 2-1 Lille (Champions League)

Brentford 0-2 Liverpool (Premier League)

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool (Premier League)

07:28 PM GMT

Start for 19-year-old Danns

07:25 PM GMT

Dutch will welcome high-flying Slot with pride on his return with Liverpool

Chris Bascombe has the full story.

07:22 PM GMT

Back in familiar surroundings

Cody Gakpo starts against his former club in his home city.

07:17 PM GMT

Full team news

Arne Slot makes nine changes to his side from their 4-1 Premier League home win over Ipswich last weekend. With a top-two position secured already, Slot has opted to rest plenty of his key players. Nineteen-year-old forward Jayden Danns is given a start as is 20-year-old midfielder James McConnell. Cody Gakpo starts in his home city against his former club. Darwin Nunez is ill so does not feature.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Robertson, Tsimikas, Endo, McConnell, Chiesa, Elliott, Gakpo, Danns.

Substitutes: Jaros, Davies, Kone-Doherty, Mabaya, Nallo, Morrison, Norris, Morton, Nyoni.

PSV make five changes from their 3-2 win over NAC last weekend. Defender Ryan Flamingo was sent off in their last Champions League match so is suspended tonight. 19-year-old Tygo Land makes his Champions League debut tonight. They are without former Rangers loan signing Malik Tillman, who is ruled out through injury. Former Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic is ineligible having missed the registration period for the Champions League.

PSV: Benitez, Karsdorp, Boscagli, Obispo, Junior, Bakayoko, Land, Veerman, Saibari, Pepi, Til.

Substitutes: Drommel, Schiks, de Jong, Driouech, Babadi, Kuhn, Ledezma, Nagalo, Abed.

07:10 PM GMT

Where each team likely to finish

07:08 PM GMT

Tonight’s fixtures

Aston Villa vs Celtic

Barcelona vs Atalanta

Bayer Leverkusen vs Sparta Prague

Bayern Munich vs Slovan Bratislava

Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Brest vs Real Madrid

Dinamo Zagreb vs AC Milan

Girona vs Arsenal

Inter Milan vs Monaco

Juventus vs Benfica

Lille vs Feyenoord

Manchester City vs Club Brugge

PSV vs Liverpool

RB Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid

Sporting vs Bologna

Sturm Graz vs Leipzig

Stuttgart vs PSG

Young Boys vs Red Star

You can keep across the action from all the games with our clockwatch blog.

07:04 PM GMT

Get your fix

06:58 PM GMT

Full live Champions League table

06:56 PM GMT

PSV team news

06:55 PM GMT

Nunez ill

06:54 PM GMT

Liverpool team news

06:53 PM GMT

Match preview

Champions League leaders Liverpool travel to Holland to take on PSV in their final league-phase game. Arne Slot’s side have won seven from seven so far in the competition and have already guaranteed a spot in the last 16. They will definitely finish in the top two and will secure top spot with a point tonight, with Barcelona in second going into tonight three points behind Liverpool. With a top two spot secured, Arne Slot has left a number of key players at home. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz have all not travelled with the squad to Holland. Ahead of the match, Slot has explained his decision to rest so many key players for tonight’s game.

“All the ones that are left behind could have played on Wednesday [tonight],” said Slot. “But for the long term, if you look back at our season, it has been almost every time after three or four or five weeks we gave them the break during the week when there was a League Cup or an FA Cup [game], if there was moment for them to get some freshness back we have always done that.

“It took me a while to understand this new [Champions League] format. I always say when I think I am 100 per cent sure, I use ‘99.9’ but now I can say I am 100 per cent sure that it does not matter at all if we end up one or two [in the table] because we will play 14, 15, 16, 17 and then in the end it is a draw [for] which of the teams we are going to face.

“So, this is a game for us – because we are now No.1 or No.2, we cannot drop to No.3 – that has no importance of result coming to the league table. But a very wise man once said to me, ‘I have never seen anything good coming from losing a football game’ so we are not going into the game tomorrow trying to lose the game, we will do everything we can to try to win it, of course.”

Liverpool, who have won 12 of their last 15 away games in the Champions League, beat Ipswich 4-1 at Anfield last Saturday to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand.

PSV currently sit in 19^th place in the Champions League after a 2-3 win away at Red Star last time out. They are almost certain of a spot in the play-offs and have a very outside chance of making the top eight; they are two points off eighth-placed Bayer Leverkusen but there are 10 teams between PSV and Leverkusen. They were in league action on Saturday, winning 3-2 at home against NAC, and have a four-point advantage at the summit of the Dutch Eredivisie having played a game more than second-place Ajax. They are unbeaten in their last 11 home games in Europe since a 1-2 loss to Leicester in the Conference League in April 2022.

These sides last met during the 2008/9 Champions League season, with Liverpool winning both games 3-1. Liverpool have won each of their last five meetings with PSV in the Champions League

Team news to follow shortly.