Liverpool's Amara Nallo must ‘learn from cruel' debut red card
Arne Slot says Liverpool defender Amara Nallo must learn from his 'cruel' red card in Wednesday's 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
The academy graduate's first-team debut lasted just four minutes at Philips Stadion as he was sent off late in the second half for a professional foul on Johan Bakayoko.
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At 18 years and 72 days, Nallo became the youngest Liverpool player to ever be sent off. Michael Owen (18 years, 117 days) previously held the record for his dismissal against Manchester United in April 1998.
'Amara had never played first-team football before and then to make a debut at Champions League level is probably the hardest way to make it,' Slot said.
'I think he misinterpreted the situation and that's immediately a problem at this level or in the Premier League. It's a big moment for him to learn from and it's cruel. You think 'I'm going to make my debut in the Champions League' and then a few minutes later you go off with a red card. That's always difficult.
'A career isn't always positive, there are also negatives and he has to fight very hard to make sure he plays a second Champions League game. It is not going to be easy but hopefully he will.'
It was night of mixed fortunes for Liverpool's youngsters as Slot fielded a shadow team with their place in the last 16 already secure. Barcelona's failure to beat Atalanta meant that the Premier League leaders still finished top.
Jayden Danns, 19, became the youngest player in the club's history to start a Champions League game. With Conor Bradley, Harvey Elliott and James McConnell also in the side, it was the first time Liverpool had started four players aged 21 or under in the Champions League since 2006.
In the second half, midfielder Trey Nyoni (17 years, 213 days) became Liverpool's youngest ever player to appear in a major European competition. The record had been held by Phil Charnock (17 years 215 days) since 1992.
McConnell was the pick of the youngsters on display with Slot so impressed by his combative display that he's played his way into his plans for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old midfielder has been attracting interest from Championship clubs about a possible loan move but Slot now wants him to stay put.
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'We will have a discussion tomorrow I think between me and (sporting director) Richard Hughes about these (young) players but there's definitely one that will not go out on loan: James McConnell,' Slot added.
'I liked him a lot today. 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.
'He is competitive in the training sessions we have. I'm not surprised (by his performance), but you always wonder how they will react at this level. He definitely deserves credit.'
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