Despite the sobering nature of the defeat, Slot was keen to stress that the tie remains alive and that Anfield can yet play its part in producing another memorable European comeback…reports London Daily Newsdesk
Arne Slot has made a remarkable admission that Liverpool were fortunate to leave Paris with only a two-goal deficit after being thoroughly outplayed by PSG in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday evening.
The Liverpool manager pulled no punches in his post-match assessment, conceding that his side were dismantled for large periods of the game by the French champions and had little answer to the relentless pace and attacking quality on display at the Parc des Princes. Despite the sobering nature of the defeat, however, Slot was keen to stress that the tie remains alive and that Anfield can yet play its part in producing another memorable European comeback.
“If you reflect on the whole game I think we are lucky with only losing 2-0,” Slot admitted. He acknowledged that PSG had created enough chances to have put the game well beyond Liverpool’s reach, and credited the French side with keeping the tie deceptively open by failing to convert several clear opportunities.
Slot described his team as having spent long spells of the match in “survival mode,” a phrase that carried wider implications given Liverpool’s turbulent recent run of form. The defeat in Paris followed a humiliating 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend, and the pressure on the Dutchman has intensified considerably in recent weeks.
Central to Liverpool’s difficulties on the night was the devastating attacking partnership of Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, whose pace down both flanks proved almost impossible to contain. Slot was effusive in describing just how extraordinary their speed was, suggesting it went beyond conventional sprinting to an entirely different level of athleticism. He acknowledged that Liverpool’s defensive structure struggled to cope whenever they attempted to press high, with the team being repeatedly caught and exploited in behind.
Despite the difficult evening, Slot struck a defiant tone when looking ahead to next week’s return leg at Anfield. He called on the club’s supporters to play their part in creating the kind of atmosphere that has so often proved the difference in high-stakes European nights on Merseyside. The manager was clear that Liverpool’s tactical approach would need to change significantly from what was on display in Paris, though he stopped short of revealing exactly how his team would set up.
He pointed to the unpredictable nature of football as a reason for optimism, citing the ever-present possibility of red cards, penalties, and the sheer emotional weight that Anfield can bring to bear on visiting teams. His message to supporters was unambiguous — their backing would be needed more than ever if Liverpool are to pull off a comeback.
Meanwhile, German playmaker Florian Wirtz moved to quell growing speculation about the mood inside the dressing room, insisting that the squad retains full faith in Slot despite the mounting external pressure. The £100 million summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen, who has endured a testing first season at Anfield, was firm in his defence of the manager ahead of Wednesday’s match, pointing to last season’s league title triumph as evidence of what Slot is capable of delivering.
Wirtz also pushed back on comments made by club captain Virgil van Dijk, who suggested that the players had effectively given up during the heavy defeat to City. The German was measured but clear in his disagreement, arguing that the squad continued to create chances and attempt to turn the game around even as the scoreline became increasingly difficult to stomach. He acknowledged the mental challenge of chasing the game deep into the second half with a three-goal deficit, but was adamant the effort never completely disappeared.
For Wirtz personally, matches of this magnitude were a key motivation behind his decision to leave Leverkusen and test himself at one of Europe’s biggest clubs. He spoke with genuine excitement about the prospect of performing on the Anfield stage in the return leg, suggesting that high-profile Champions League occasions were precisely the kind of games he had in mind when making the move last summer.
Liverpool face a significant challenge to progress, but with Anfield awaiting and the tie still mathematically open, Slot and his players are refusing to concede that the dream is over.
