Arne Slot’s tactics questioned after ‘toothless’ Liverpool beaten by PSG in Champions League - reaction

Arne Slot admitted Liverpool were 'lucky to only lose 2-0' (AP)

Liverpool were left with a Champions League mountain to climb as Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-0 advantage in the first leg of their quarter-final , as Arne Slot’s tactics were questioned following a “toothless” performance by the visitors that largely resembled a damage limitation exercise.

Goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave a dominant PSG a richly-deserved win at the Parc des Princes, and Luis Enrique’s side will travel to Anfield next week in a position of real strength. They were met with good resistance for long periods by a Liverpool side given extra ballast by a bold back-five formation named by Arne Slot – but, in the end, they were unable to hold the array of attacking talent in the home side totally at bay.

Liverpool will now have to overturn the deficit in next week’s second leg but Slot was hopeful that that match will not reflect the performance he saw in Paris. “If you reflect on the whole game I think we should be lucky only losing 2-0,” the Liverpool boss told TNT Sports after the game. “They had more chances than the only goals they scored.”

A tactical gamble too far? Or a pragmatic move that (just about) kept them in the tie? The debate continues over Arne Slot’s tactics for Liverpool against PSG last night. Here’s the view of Richard Jolly from the Parc des Princes:

Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Liverpool: Arne Slot’s new system was unable to keep the hosts totally at bay and left his side with it all to do in the second leg at Anfield

Harry Latham-Coyle9 April 2026 07:00

Steven Gerrard described Liverpool ’s performance against Paris Saint-Germain as ‘toothless’ as the Premier League champions were beaten 2-0 at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

The former Liverpool captain spoke on TNT Sports after the Reds conceded twice in Paris thanks to goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who secured a comfortable lead for the Champions League holders ahead of next week’s return leg.

The Reds were beaten by two goals to nil in Paris after a lacklustre performance in front of goal

Michael Jones9 April 2026 06:00

Liverpool can perhaps consider themselves fortunate that Paris Saint-Germain did not have opportunity to extend their lead from the penalty spot. Ibrahima Konate had one challenge given as a penalty but overturned after consultation with the video assistant referee, while he was probably lucky here, too:

Harry Latham-Coyle9 April 2026 03:00

Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target tonight, but Arne Slot defended their attacking output.

"Yes and no,” he said to TNT Sports when asked if felt his side needed to create more. “Yes because we want to create much more chances, no because there was not a lot to create for us. We tried many times to get them high, but they were able to play through us when we went man-to-man. I think that happened in the second half as well. There were a few times with players in promising positions."

Harry Latham-Coyle8 April 2026 23:59