{"id":531916,"date":"2026-04-15T09:23:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:23:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/531916\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T09:23:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:23:11","slug":"jamie-carragher-left-flabbergasted-by-what-arne-slot-did-in-liverpools-defeat-to-psg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/531916\/","title":{"rendered":"Jamie Carragher left ‘flabbergasted’ by what Arne Slot did in Liverpool’s defeat to PSG"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool crashed out of the Champions League after suffering a 4-0 defeat on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain, piling more pressure on Arne Slot’s position as manager<\/p>\n

08:10, 15 Apr 2026Updated 10:14, 15 Apr 2026<\/p>\n

\"Jamie<\/p>\n

Jamie Carragher couldn’t ‘believe’ Arne Slot’s decision(Image: CBS Sports)<\/p>\n

Jamie Carragher was left ‘flabbergasted’ by Arne Slot’s decision to start undercooked Alexander Isak<\/a> instead of Mo Salah<\/a> for Liverpool’s must-win Champions League<\/a> quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain<\/a>. Isak, who hadn’t started a match since December, got the nod ahead of Salah with the Reds 2-0 down on aggregate following an abject first leg loss in France<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Liverpool<\/a> ultimately suffered defeat by the same scoreline at Anfield<\/a>, and Slot appeared to acknowledge his mistake when he took Isak off at half-time. Salah came on in the first half after Hugo Ekitike<\/a> picked up what looked to be a serious injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the second leg, Carragher admitted that couldn’t ‘believe’ Slot’s decision to bench Salah, who recently announced that this will be his final season at Anfield<\/a>. The Liverpool legend said on CBS Sports<\/a>: “I can’t believe it, that he [Salah] is not playing. I can’t understand why.<\/p>\n

“The manager will have his reasons, but Isak is nowhere near fit. Mo Salah didn’t play in the first leg, so he’s not like some of the players who played last week and then played at the weekend in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

WORLD CUP LEGENDS: The stars who lit up football’s greatest tournament – Buy the Special Edition today<\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE: Wayne Rooney points finger at Liverpool ‘leaders’ over no show after PSG loss<\/a>READ MORE: Alan Shearer slates Alexander Isak as Liverpool star taken off early in Champions League exit<\/a><\/p>\n

“He played in the Premier League, he scored a goal, he’s still one of Liverpool, probably Liverpool’s best goalscorer. He’s used to this system; Isak’s never really played at with Ekitike before.<\/p>\n

“Now, I don’t think Arne Slot’s<\/a> the type of manager who would almost be thinking: ‘I remember what you did to me a few months ago when you called me out publicly.’<\/p>\n

“Certain managers in the past, I can think of maybe Alex Ferguson<\/a>… I don’t think Arne Slot<\/a> would, but is it because he’s already announced he’s leaving? And it’s something like, ‘I’m almost going with the players who are going to be here in the next year’.<\/p>\n

Do you agree with Jamie Carragher? Have your say in the comments section<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"LIVERPOOL,<\/p>\n

Alexander Isak was a surprise name in the starting line-up(Image: Michael Regan – UEFA\/UEFA via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“I don’t know, it’s the only thing I can think of, but even that doesn’t make sense, because it’s about the here and now, so I’m flabbergasted Mo Salah’s not playing.”<\/p>\n

Slot explained his decision to bench Salah by saying that he wanted two strikers who Liverpool could ‘play into’ as they chased two goals. The Reds boss also defended his decision to start Isak, stating post-match: “I think he was ready and if I thought he wasn’t ready, then I wouldn’t have played him.”<\/p>\n

The goals didn’t come, though, and his side will end the season without a trophy. Liverpool’s focus will now solely be on qualifying for next season’s Champions League, starting with a Merseyside derby<\/a> on Sunday. It’ll be their first visit to Everton’s<\/a> new Hill Dickinson Stadium.<\/p>\n

\"LIVERPOOL,<\/p>\n

Arne Slot ended up bringing Mo Salah on(Image: Alex Livesey – Danehouse\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Despite being knocked by PSG for the second year in a row, Carragher was encouraged by Liverpool’s vastly improved performance. “PSG<\/a> are a far better team than Liverpool right now, we’ve seen that other the last two years,” he added.<\/p>\n

“But I can accept what I saw tonight in that I saw a performance, certainly in the second half, that’s what I expect from Liverpool in a European game at home. If the opposition are better than you, fair enough.<\/p>\n

“But there was an intensity to the play, certainly in that first 25 minutes and the start of the second half. We haven’t seen that a lot all season and that always has to be the style of football Liverpool play, no matter who the players are, no matter who the manager is.”<\/p>\n

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