Liverpool manager Arne Slot has defended his decision to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench during his side’s 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, saying the nature of the match required defensive discipline rather than attacking ambition.
The Premier League side were beaten in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Paris, with goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia securing a comfortable victory for the hosts at the Parc des Princes. Liverpool struggled throughout the contest and failed to record a single shot on target.
Slot said after the match that his team found it difficult to cope whenever they attempted to press high up the pitch. As the game progressed, he explained, the focus shifted away from attacking intent.
He described the second half as becoming “more about surviving,” suggesting that introducing Salah would not have significantly changed the dynamic, as the forward would have been required to contribute largely in a defensive capacity.
Liverpool set up with a cautious system, starting with three centre-backs and a five-man defensive line. Salah, typically central to the team’s attacking threat, remained among the substitutes as Slot opted for a more conservative approach against the defending European champions.
The decision ultimately did little to prevent PSG from dominating large portions of the game. The French side’s control was reflected not only in the scoreline but also in Liverpool’s inability to create meaningful chances.
The result leaves Liverpool facing a considerable challenge ahead of the return leg at Anfield next week, where they will need to overturn a two-goal deficit to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Despite the setback, captain Virgil van Dijk expressed confidence that the team can respond on home soil. He pointed to Anfield’s reputation for dramatic European nights as a source of belief within the squad.
Slot echoed that sentiment, stressing the importance of home support in the second leg. He said the team would need its supporters “more than ever” as they attempt to mount a comeback.
Liverpool will now turn their attention to the decisive fixture, knowing that improvement will be required if they are to reverse the tie and progress to the semi-finals.
Following the game, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard urged for Patience after the omission of Salah.
