The Liverpool gamble that backfired against PSG – but might have kept their Champions League chances alive
The good news for Liverpool is that they do not require their greatest Anfield comeback in Europe. But if that tag will forever be reserved for Barcelona in 2019, it may need their second best to eliminate Paris Saint-Germain.
A night when Arne Slot abandoned the basis of his system – and, some would say, his principles – in favour of pragmatism brought a damage-limitation exercise that might be bracketed as a qualified success.
Richard Jolly, in Paris 9 April 2026 11:00
Steven Gerrard: ‘It was total domination from PSG’
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard described PSG’s performance as “total domination” and blamed Liverpool’s lack of bite in the final third for the result.
“It’s going to be a real big ask is because PSG are so good,” he said. “It was total domination tonight, Liverpool’s tactics and gameplan worked for large periods of the game but they didn’t have anything up top. They were quite toothless and didn’t create anything.
“Over the course of 90 minutes Liverpool haven’t offered enough but what they’ve done is given themselves a small opportunity next week at Anfield.”
Former Liverpool player Steven Gerrard working as a pundit for TNT Sports (Adam Davy/PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood9 April 2026 10:30
‘Very difficult to turn this tie around’
Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman, speaking on TNT Sports, said Liverpool were fortunate to not run into a more “ruthless” Paris Saint-Germain and believes it will take a “huge performance” to turn the tie around next week.
“It’s an easy game to analyse. Weirdly enough, PSG weren’t ruthless enough tonight. The chances they missed…
“Liverpool had Alisson to the rescue last year, if anything it was PSG not putting them to the sword today. I thought Liverpool were very lightweight up top. Not being ruthless enough, not taking shots on.
“It’s going to be difficult to turn this around, against this team. Marquinhos [PSG’s captain] has had the easiest game of the season, he’s hardly done anything today.
“It’s going to take a huge performance for Liverpool to turn this around next week.”
Jamie Braidwood9 April 2026 10:00
Jamie Carragher rips into Liverpool’s problem player after bruising PSG loss
Jamie Carragher was left to lament just how badly things have changed for Liverpool in the space of a year and has named who he believes to be the team’s weak link after they were roundly dominated in a bruising Champions League quarter-final defeat at Paris Saint-Germain.
Slot took a gamble by starting the game with a back-five system but the strategic decision proved ill-fated, with Carragher saying on CBS Sports Golazo: “The manager has tried something but he’s got it massively wrong tactically, how he went about it.”
Will Castle9 April 2026 09:38
Arne Slot explains why Mohamed Salah was left on the bench
“In the last part of the game it was more about us surviving than there was ever a chance of scoring.
“You never know because last season we scored five minutes before the end, but I think this was 20, 25 minutes where we only defending.
“Mo has so much qualities but to be 20, 25 minutes defending in his own box, I think it’s better for him to save his energy for other tough games coming up.”
Jamie Braidwood9 April 2026 09:30
Arne Slot highlights ‘importance’ of Anfield in second leg
“We were outplayed here last season, which led to a 1-0 win from us which was unbelievable. Paris Saint-Germain was by far the better team today, could have scored more than two goals.
“But the good thing was that the players of Liverpool showed fighting spirit, kept going. Almost every time they had a shot, we had a lot of players behind the ball or protecting our box, which was necessary because if you don’t run back, these players, like the ones from City, are able to hurt you a lot.
“Last season at Anfield we played a completely different game and after 10 minutes could have been 2-0 up.
“But we need to have a) a better performance and b) we definitely need our fans to help us to create an atmosphere where we can rise to a better level than we did so today.”
Slot highlights ‘importance of Anfield’ after Liverpool gamble backfires against PSG
Jamie Braidwood9 April 2026 09:00
Liverpool’s toothless display against PSG and lowest xG under Arne Slot
According to Opta, Liverpool’s xG of 0.17 was their lowest tally recorded under Arne Slot, following last season’s trip to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
They managed just three shots, all from outside the box, and with none on target.
Jamie Braidwood9 April 2026 08:30
Can Liverpool overturn Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg?
Liverpool have twice overturned a first-leg defeat away from home in the Champions League knockout stages.
They were a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the 2007 semi-finals, and that memorable comeback following a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in the 2019 semi-finals.
It’s been done before – but PSG look too strong for this Liverpool side, who barely landed a punch in Paris.
Jamie Braidwood9 April 2026 08:00
Arne Slot says Liverpool were ‘lucky to only lose 2-0’ after insipid outing in Paris
Slot set the Reds up with a defensive back five to try an nullify PSG’s attacking qualities but the hosts opened the scoring after Desire Doue’s deflected shot looped over Giorgi Mamardashvili in Liverpool’s goal.
Harry Latham-Coyle9 April 2026 07:30
The Liverpool gamble that backfired against PSG – but might have kept their Champions League chances alive
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:
Harry Latham-Coyle9 April 2026 07:00