Arne Slot urges Liverpool FC fans to inspire comeback against Paris Saint-Germain after 2-0 first-leg loss
Arne Slot has admitted that Liverpool were in “survival mode” for much of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, but remains confident they can turn the tie around with the help of their supporters at Anfield next week.
The Reds suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes, with goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia putting PSG in control of the tie. Despite the scoreline, Slot insisted Liverpool still had hope of reaching the semi-finals, but warned that a vastly improved performance would be required in the second leg on home soil.
“I think we were in survival mode for large parts of the game, but maybe also in the period of the season we are in survival mode,” Slot said. “You try to find ways to make sure their qualities are not seen that much, but that’s really hard against this team. PSG was the better team, but we didn’t give up, and that’s why we still have a chance.”
The tie now looks daunting for Liverpool, but Slot is confident that the atmosphere at Anfield can help his team lift their level. He pointed to last season’s remarkable second-leg comeback against Galatasaray as a potential inspiration.
“Football has shown many times that everything is possible,” Slot continued. “Red cards, incidents, penalties, yes or no, and don’t forget that Anfield can do a lot. Our fans make a big difference for us.”
The Liverpool manager acknowledged that PSG had created chances in the first leg that could have put the tie out of reach. Ousmane Dembélé, once a hero for Barcelona against Klopp’s side in 2019, squandered several opportunities, allowing Liverpool to remain in contention.
Despite struggling for large parts of the match, Liverpool’s manager remained optimistic about their chances. Slot believes that with a better performance and the full backing of Anfield, his team can pull off another iconic European comeback.
“We will need a better performance than we gave today,” he said. “Last season at Anfield in the last-16 second leg, we could have been 2-0 up after 30 minutes. We’ve been in tough situations before and have managed to get through, so we can do it again.”
Meanwhile, PSG coach Luis Enrique recognised that the return leg at Anfield will be a challenge, with the legendary atmosphere of the stadium providing a difficult environment for visiting teams. “I don’t think there’s such a big gap between the two teams,” Enrique said. “We know that it will be very difficult to play at Anfield. I’ve done it as a player and as a coach, and it is always difficult. There will be suffering during this game, but our mentality is always the same: whatever the stadium, whatever the team, we are going there to win and to qualify.”
Despite Enrique’s confidence, Liverpool will hope that the roar of the crowd at Anfield can galvanise them to overcome the deficit and set up a dramatic second-leg showdown. With the aggregate score currently 2-0 in PSG’s favour, the stage is set for another thrilling night of European football.