LIVERPOOL teenager Amara Nallo was sent off barely four minutes into his Reds debut as his side fell to PSV this evening.
In doing so, the 18-year-old defender became the youngest player to be red carded in the club’s 132-year history.
https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1884721627000082667
Amara Nallo fouls PSV star Johan Bakayoko[/caption]
Nallo, 18, was quickly shown a red card[/caption]
At 18 years and 72 days, Nallo beat the previous record set by Michael Owen against Manchester United in April 1998, with the forward having been 18 years and 117 days old, per Opta.
With Liverpool having already qualified for the Champions League round of 16, boss Arne Slot brought a youthful side with him to face PSV.
In the 83rd minute, Slot brought on defender Nallo for his first Reds appearance.
Just four minutes later, PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez sent a long punt downfield.
Nallo went to clear the ball, only for PSV star Johan Bakayoko to get there first.
Referee Tobias Stieler adjudged Nallo’s foul to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity, despite Jarell Quansah potentially having been on the cover.
On co-commentary for TNT Sports, gutted former Reds star Steve McManaman said: “Oh no!”
He then wondered whether Nallo may have got the ball, but there would be no reprieve.
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Liverpool already trailed 3-2 prior to Nallo’s introduction.
PSV old-boy Cody Gakpo had given them the lead from the penalty spot on 28 minutes, before the game really burst into life.
Bakayoko levelled in the 35th minute, only for Harvey Elliott to swiftly reclaim Liverpool’s lead.
Amazingly PSV would go into the break ahead, following Ismael Saibari’s 45th minute equaliser and Ricardo Pepi’s effort deep into first-half stoppage time.
Despite falling to a 3-2 defeat, Liverpool still finished top of the league phase with 21 points from eight games.
They could have been caught by Barcelona, only for the Catalan side to fail to beat Atalanta at home.
Liverpool will skip next month’s play-off round and head straight into the round of 16 in March.
They will then face one of PSG, Benfica, AS Monaco or Brest, with Nallo suspended for the first leg.
Who faces who?
Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…
Play-off round
Atalanta vs Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
Real Madrid vs Celtic/Man City
Bayern Munich vs Celtic/Man City
AC Milan vs Feyenoord/Juventus
PSV vs Feyenoord/Juventus
PSG vs AS Monaco/Brest
Benfica vs AS Monaco/Brest
Feyenoord vs AC Milan/PSV
Juventus vs AC Milan/PSV
Celtic vs Bayern Munich/Real Madrid
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich/Real Madrid
Sporting Lisbon vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund
Club Brugge vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund
Last 16
Liverpool vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/Brest
Barcelona vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/Brest
Arsenal vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/Juventus
Inter Milan vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/Juventus
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man City
Bayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man City
Lille vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
Aston Villa vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
