Arne Slot's Liverpool Faces Uphill Battle Against PSG

Arne Slot speaks to media

Arne Slot's Liverpool must turn the tide at Anfield against PSG after dismal first-leg performance. Liverpool faces PSG in Champions League quarter-final second leg, needing a 'very special' performance to overturn 2-0 deficit.

“The last time we faced each other they had the ball for 76 percent of the time...”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot knows his team needs a “very special” performance to overturn their 2-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield on Tuesday. Slot's side are on the brink of being eliminated by PSG for a second successive season after a disappointing display in Paris last week.

Slot emphasized the importance of the Anfield crowd, stating that the atmosphere could be decisive in inspiring his team to a comeback. He also highlighted the need for Liverpool to start aggressively and take risks to get the ball off PSG.

Liverpool's struggles continued in the Champions League as they failed to land a single shot on target at the Parc des Princes, leaving them 2-0 down to PSG. Coach Arne Slot knows his team needs to step up significantly to pull off a miracle at Anfield. “We have to find the perfect balance between being offensive and having the ball,” Slot said, hinting at a more attacking approach for Tuesday's clash.

“We know we need an exceptional performance to go to the next round but that's completely normal when you face the champions of Europe,” Slot told reporters on Monday.

“In the 49 home games we have played under me, 36 times we were able to score two goals or more.

“Yes, we have not played all these 49 games against Paris Saint-Germain, I realise that, but the Premier League and Champions League opponents we had were very strong.

Preparing for PSG 📸✨ pic.twitter.com/Ucj7cOcK0p

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 13, 2026

“So there is a belief we can do special things tomorrow but we need to be very, very, very special to achieve that.”

Liverpool's struggles continue to mount, with Arne Slot facing intense scrutiny after a dismal Premier League title defense and a humiliating FA Cup exit. The Reds' 2-0 win over Fulham provided temporary relief, but a lackluster Champions League performance could reignite criticism ahead of Sunday's Merseyside derby at Everton.

Slot's tactics have been questioned, particularly after Liverpool's 2-0 loss to PSG in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. The pressure is building, with fans and pundits alike calling for change. Liverpool's recent form hasn't helped, with just four wins in 13 Premier League games this season.

A strong performance against PSG could shift the narrative, but the stakes are high. Slot knows his team needs to step up, and the Anfield crowd will be expecting a miracle. 

Liverpool Needs Aggressive Start Against PSG to Turn the Tide

Liverpool manager Arne Slot knows his team needs to start aggressively against Paris Saint-Germain to overturn their 2-0 deficit in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield. Slot's side struggled to retain possession and rarely troubled the PSG defense in the first leg, and he'll be looking for a much-improved performance from his team.

“We are playing the champions of Europe so that makes the task more difficult but not impossible,” he said.

“For now let's just focus on the job on hand, start aggressive and make sure we can get back in the tie.

“Even Saturday showed how important a goal is... minutes (later) we scored the second. That is what football is about, a goal can change the momentum, which happened negatively for us at Manchester City.”

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot is sticking to his guns despite criticism for the team's passive performance in the first leg against PSG. Slot believes his team can turn the tide at Anfield with a similar approach, emphasizing the importance of the home crowd's influence. “Just as important as our performance is the influence of the Anfield crowd,” Slot said, hinting at a more aggressive start to take on PSG.

“People probably find it very hard what I am about to say now but the approach is not so different tomorrow than it was in Paris. For the people who know me I never tell them to play in a low block for 90 minutes,” he said.

“You could see we pressed them high on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, seven or eight of those moments led them to being one-on-one with our goalkeeper.

“The last time we faced each other they had the ball for 76 percent of the time, so that's the first thing we have to change tomorrow, to have the ball more.”

Read the key takeaways from Arne Slot's press conference before our Champions League quarter-final second leg with Paris Saint-Germain 🗣️

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 13, 2026

“If we have it more then it's nice to have the attacking threat on the pitch and that's what we will have tomorrow.”

Can Liverpool shock PSG with a miracle comeback at Anfield?