A minimum of Liverpool followers who witnessed the four-goal mauling at Manchester Metropolis on Saturday have been in a position to escape after an hour.
Those that paid lots of of kilos to journey to Paris and watch an abject Champions League efficiency devoid of ambition weren’t so fortunate.
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Half an hour after the referee blew the full-time whistle to verify Paris St-Germain’s 2-0 win – and Liverpool’s sixteenth defeat of the season – the away followers have been nonetheless inside the bottom as French police held them again with a view to clear the house supporters.
“That was our champions in opposition to their champions. Our champions have been nowhere close to,” stated former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who was inside Parc des Princes for BBC Radio 5 Reside.
Stephen Warnock, the previous Liverpool defender, went additional after this quarter-final first-leg loss within the French capital – during which Liverpool did not register an try on track in a Champions League match for the primary time since 2020.
“It appears like confidence is at an all-time low,” he informed BBC Sport.
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And but, one way or the other, Liverpool are nonetheless alive within the tie.
Might one other “particular night at Anfield”, as Reds boss Arne Slot put it, be on the playing cards – or is {that a} step too far this time?
‘Enjoying 5 on the again despatched out incorrect alerts’
Liverpool will nonetheless imagine they’ll flip this tie round when the groups meet for the second leg in six days’ time.
In any case, the Reds have completed it earlier than when all has appeared misplaced in Europe.
“We have seen some memorable European comebacks at Anfield earlier than – from 3-0 down in opposition to Barcelona in 2019 to win the second leg 4-0, for instance,” stated Warnock.
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“Nevertheless it appears like they’re 1,000,000 miles away from doing something like that for the time being.”
Liverpool have been second finest by a long way in opposition to the European champions, who loved 74% possession on Wednesday, regardless of Slot’s staff organising in survival mode.
PSG had 18 pictures to Liverpool’s three. Thirty-nine touches within the field to the Reds’ 9. Extra corners, extra crosses, extra passes – and with higher passing accuracy.
Liverpool performed with 5 in defence but have been ripped aside again and again. Up entrance, their assault lacked a innovative.
“They’re a staff which is creaking, therefore why they performed a again 5,” added Robinson.
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“Quickly as they performed a again 5, it sends out the incorrect alerts for me.
“It’s not enjoying to Liverpool’s strengths and it’s defending their weaknesses.”
One French journalist on the recreation likened Liverpool’s ways to these of a “little staff” within the French Cup arising in opposition to PSG.
“It was like they have been scared,” he added.
Liverpool have misplaced 4 consecutive away video games in all competitions for the primary time since 2012 [Getty Images]
‘Higher for Salah to avoid wasting his vitality’
On an evening £125m British report signing Alexander Isak made his comeback from harm instead – his first look of 2026 – Slot determined to drop Mohamed Salah.
The Egypt ahead was not even utilised from the bench.
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“I believe it’s higher for him to avoid wasting his vitality for video games arising,” the Liverpool supervisor stated after the sport.
Slot’s aspect have managed only one aim in three matches – and none up to now two.
“We have been in survival mode for giant elements of the sport however possibly additionally the interval of the season we’re in, we’re in survival mode,” he stated.
“PSG was the higher staff however we did not surrender and that’s the reason we nonetheless have an opportunity.
“They saved us alive by not scoring a couple of open probabilities.
“We wish to create rather more probabilities. We tried many occasions to get them excessive, however they have been in a position to play by means of us once we went man-to-man.
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“I believe that occurred within the second half as properly. There have been a couple of occasions with gamers in promising positions.”
A minimum of Isak’s return gave the Reds one thing to cling to on an in any other case evening to overlook.
But he was unable to affect the sport after his 78th-minute introduction and, in response to Opta, had simply three touches.
So what now for Slot?
Liverpool went into their Champions League last-16 tie in opposition to PSG final season with a 74.4% win fee below Slot after 43 video games.
Since being knocked out on penalties, the Reds have gained simply 49.2% of their previous 59 video games, whereas their loss proportion has greater than trebled.
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Slot has retained the help of Liverpool’s house owners and has credit score within the financial institution after final season’s Premier League triumph – however that’s more likely to change if they don’t qualify for the Champions League.
The Reds both need to win this season’s competitors – which appears unlikely after Wednesday’s efficiency – or qualify by means of ending within the prime 5 within the Premier League.
They’re at present fifth – one level forward of sixth-placed Chelsea.
“Slot is just not going to get sacked for dropping 2-0 at PSG,” stated Warnock.
“They’re among the best groups in Europe. However the defeats are stacking up, and there is the hazard there might be extra injury subsequent week.
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“It’s going to go well with PSG subsequent week as a result of Liverpool need to go at them.
“They can not play like this and sit in at Anfield, after they want targets.
“However what does Slot do? Liverpool’s system tonight screams ‘you’re higher than us’. If he opens up, they depart themselves weak and so they might get battered.”
Captain Virgil van Dijk accused the staff of “giving up” in opposition to Metropolis final weekend, when Liverpool conceded 4 occasions within the house of 20 minutes both aspect of half-time.
After dropping to PSG, he insisted the staff wouldn’t surrender on their Champions League ambitions.
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“We should not overlook we play in opposition to the European champions of final season and also you see the standard they’ve within the video games that they performed already this season,” he stated.
“We’ve to be completely spot on with every part we do.
“Hopefully our followers can play an enormous half in that as properly. I have been by means of many particular evenings at Anfield, I am very fortunate and privileged, and our followers, that is the spine of the membership and hopefully they are often there for us once more.”