• Liverpool were beaten 3-2 by PSV in their final league phase encounter
  • Goals from Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott were not enough in Eindhoven
  • Reds finished first in the table despite loss in Eindhoven

Liverpool were beaten 3-2 by PSV Eindhoven in their final Champions League league phase encounter but still managed to finish first in the table thanks to Barcelona's draw with Atalanta.

Arne Slot made nine changes to his starting lineup with Liverpool already assured of their place in the last 16 and it seemed to have little impact on his side's cohesion in the early stages. In between a fantastic strike from Johan Bakayoko, Cody Gakpo's penalty and Harvey Elliott's finish had put the Reds in a commanding position.

However, on the stroke of half-time, Liverpool's defence imploded as efforts from Ismael Saibari and Ricardo Pepi saw the Reds surrender their lead and enter half-time behind.

Liverpool failed to find an equaliser after the break and even saw debutant Amara Nallo sent off in the closing stages as they succumbed to their first European defeat of the season, but they cared little as Barcelona's inability to beat Atalanta means the Reds hold on to top spot.

How the game unfolded

Despite sweeping alterations to the team, Liverpool's peripheral figures played with an admirable confidence against the Eredivisie champions - who last lost on home soil in November 2022 - and they were rewarded for an encouraging start in the 28th minute.

Referee Tobias Stieler pointed to the spot after Joey Veerman's clumsy swipe on Chiesa in the penalty area, with Gakpo converting with impressive composure from the spot against his former employers and boyhood club.

Peter Bosz's side are renowned for their attacking ingenuity and their first moment of invention resulted in the equaliser ten minutes from half-time. The speedy Bakayoko, who has been linked with Liverpool previously, scored an excellent leveller from Pepi's smart flick.

Chaos ensued before the half-time whistle as Liverpool restored their lead through Elliott's close-range rebound, before inexplicably entering the break behind following two quick-fire PSV goals.

Saibari scored the equaliser after beating Kelleher with a high finish at the goalkeeper's near post, with Pepi subsequently putting the home side ahead for the first time with a glancing touch following a deflected delivery to the six-yard box.

Little changed after the restart with both sides impressing in forward areas and lacking organisation in defence, but the flurry of first-half goals somewhat took the sting out of proceedings as PSV looked to protect their advantage.

The hosts almost scored a clinching fourth with just under 20 minutes remaining following some sloppy Liverpool defending, but substitute Tyler Morton produced a stunning last-ditch challenge to deny Saibari and keep the Reds within touching distance of the their Dutch opponents.

But any hopes of an equaliser were dashed in the 87th minute as substitute and debutant Nallo was sent off just four minutes after coming on, with Kelleher called into action in the closing stages to stop PSV from adding a fourth.

Despite defeat in Eindhoven, Liverpool will rest easy tonight knowing that they finished top of the table thanks to Barcelona's draw in Catalonia.