Liverpool’s Champions League future might be formed at Anfield on Tuesday, as they take a slender 1-0 benefit into the second leg of their last-16 tie towards Paris Saint-Germain.
Arne Slot’s facet have been underneath relentless strain in Paris however someway emerged with victory. Alisson Becker produced one in all his most interesting performances, making 9 saves as PSG racked up 27 pictures with out discovering the web. Liverpool, in the meantime, had simply two makes an attempt all recreation, but Harvey Elliott’s 87th-minute strike was sufficient to tilt the tie of their favour.
The style of that first-leg win has been extensively debated, with some claiming Liverpool have been lucky. . “Some individuals stated we performed poorly, I don’t agree,” he stated. “I feel they performed tremendously effectively. I don’t suppose we’ve got performed a crew this season who mixed that a lot high quality with depth.”
Liverpool’s defensive resilience was examined to the restrict, however the second leg presents a special problem. At Anfield, they are going to want extra management and composure in possession.
“We hope to have extra of the ball than final week,” Slot stated. “They exhausted us a bit by continually urgent, and for those who get the ball, typically you’re too drained to execute completely.”
PSG, for all their attacking brilliance, aren’t any strangers to Champions League disappointment. Regardless of their immense assets, they’ve by no means received the competitors, with collapses in high-stakes ties changing into an undesirable theme. Their efficiency in Paris was dominant, however the last product was lacking.
They responded in fashion on the weekend, dismantling Rennes 4-1. Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos have been on track earlier than Ousmane Dembele added two late targets to succeed in 20 Ligue 1 strikes for the season. It was the right response, making certain they journey to England in excessive spirits.
Liverpool’s house kind might be essential. They haven’t misplaced at Anfield in 90 minutes since October 2022, whereas PSG’s final victory on English soil got here in 2020 towards Manchester United.
Even so, Slot is underneath no illusions in regards to the risk they pose. “Let’s be sincere right here, we’re speaking about most likely the richest membership,” he stated. “They’ve a lot high quality and a fantastic supervisor who brings an unimaginable work price to the crew.”
Luis Enrique claimed the winner of this tie would attain the ultimate, a press release Slot acknowledged however didn’t absolutely endorse. “Each we and PSG are groups, together with three or 4 others, which might be ok to succeed in the ultimate,” he stated. “However as a result of it is just two video games, luck and unhealthy luck might be decisive.”
That is the type of European night time Anfield thrives on, and Liverpool will want each ounce of their pedigree to fend off PSG’s onslaught. “Perhaps 50/50 is a good approach of taking a look at it,” Slot stated. “The consequence was ours, the efficiency was for them.”
A season-defining 90 minutes awaits.