Liverpool may have lost 3-2 to PSV in the Champions League, but for James McConnell, the night was a personal triumph. The 20-year-old midfielder made his debut in the competition and played the entire match, seizing the opportunity to prove himself.
Despite the defeat, which had no impact on Liverpool’s top-place finish in the group, manager Arne Slot was thoroughly impressed.
Slot, who fielded a heavily rotated squad since qualification was already secured, saw enough in McConnell’s performance to make a key decision—he won’t be going out on loan. The young midfielder, signed from Sunderland in 2019, has struggled with injuries over the past months, but Slot believes he has the quality to stay with the first team.
When asked about potential loan moves before the transfer window closes, Slot revealed he would be discussing plans with sporting director Richard Hughes. However, on McConnell, his mind was already made up.
“There’s always a chance in life. At the moment, most of our players are fit, so we’ll have that discussion tomorrow,” Slot said. “But one player who will definitely not be going on loan is James McConnell. I liked him a lot today.
Maybe going out to play regularly would be good for him, but he’s been out injured for a while and hasn’t played much in the last six or seven months. He impressed me a lot.”
Slot highlighted McConnell’s competitive nature, both in training and on the pitch, and praised his ability to step up at the Champions League level. “He is always very competitive. I’m not surprised, but you always wonder how a player will react at this level,” the Dutchman added. “James plays and competes. He definitely deserves credit for his performance today.”
With Slot’s backing, McConnell now looks set to stay and fight for a place in Liverpool’s first team for the rest of the season.