Liverpool Coach Defends Tactics After PSG Defeat
Liverpool coach Arne Slot admits his team was outplayed by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, but insists the Reds still have hope going into the return leg.
Liverpool suffer 2-0 loss to PSG in Champions League quarter-final first leg, face uphill battle for Anfield return...
Liverpool coach Arne Slot admitted his team was outplayed by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, saying PSG was “by far the better team” and could have scored more than two goals. However, he highlighted the Reds' fighting spirit, saying they kept going despite being in “survival mode.”
Slot defended his decision to play with three central defenders, and despite the 2-0 loss, he's optimistic about Liverpool's chances in the return leg at Anfield. “We are happy that we are still in the tie,” he said, pointing to Liverpool's history of comebacks and the support of their fans.
Desire Doue scored PSG's opener with a deflected strike, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added a second after the hour mark. PSG dominated possession (70%) and chances (18 shots on goal to Liverpool's 3), but Liverpool's defense showed some grit.
“It is really hard against this team. PSG was the better team, but we didn't give up and that is why we still have a chance in this tie, and now we can bring the tie back to Anfield, and in between there is still a very important game to play against Fulham.”
Arne Slot went for a three-center-back formation with Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, and Virgil van Dijk, benching Mohamed Salah. Alexander Isak made a welcome return, coming on as a late sub for his first appearance since December, recovering from a broken leg.
Salah 'conserving energy' for Anfield return
“The last part of the game it was more about surviving for us than it was ever about scoring,” Slot said of his decision not to use the Egyptian off the bench.
“Mo has so much quality but for Mo to be 20 to 25 minutes defending in his own box, I think it is better for him to save his energy for a lot of games we have coming up.”
Arne Slot's under pressure with Liverpool fifth in the Premier League and facing a tough Champions League exit. He's defending his tactical switch, saying PSG's attacking full-backs, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, forced him to change the formation.
“Milos (Kerkez) had to play almost as a left-winger facing Hakimi, and then there were four defenders left, so you could almost explain it as a 4-3-3,“ he said.
“Just think about what would have happened if we had played with real wingers against Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.”
Liverpool faces a tough challenge bouncing back from their 2-0 loss to PSG as they host Fulham in the Premier League today. Meanwhile, PSG gets a weekend off after their Ligue 1 game against Lens was postponed, giving them extra time to prepare for the return leg at Anfield next Tuesday.
Arne Slot’s press conference after the first leg of our Champions League quarter-final.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 8, 2026
“I think we played very well against a top-class side - they changed their system but we are used to that because teams have a habit of changing the way they play against us,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique.
“It is just a shame because we created a lot of chances in the second half and could have scored more goals.”
Last season, PSG beat Liverpool in the last 16, winning the penalty shoot-out at Anfield after overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit. This win was pivotal in PSG's run to their first-ever Champions League title.
Defeat in the first leg. #UCL pic.twitter.com/eKY0nLl7T5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 8, 2026
“I have been to Anfield many times as a player and coach and it is always complicated, but mentality is always the same, wherever we play, we always go out to win the game,” said Luis Enrique.
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