Arne Slot’s tactics questioned after ‘toothless’ Liverpool beaten by PSG in Champions League - reaction | OneFootball

Arne Slot admitted Liverpool were 'lucky to only lose 2-0' (AP)

Liverpool were left with a Champions League mountain to climb as Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-0 advantage in the first leg of their quarter-final, as Arne Slot’s tactics were questioned following a “toothless” performance by the visitors that largely resembled a damage limitation exercise.

Goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave a dominant PSG a richly-deserved win at the Parc des Princes, and Luis Enrique’s side will travel to Anfield next week in a position of real strength. They were met with good resistance for long periods by a Liverpool side given extra ballast by a bold back-five formation named by Arne Slot – but, in the end, they were unable to hold the array of attacking talent in the home side totally at bay.

Liverpool will now have to overturn the deficit in next week’s second leg but Slot was hopeful that that match will not reflect the performance he saw in Paris. “If you reflect on the whole game I think we should be lucky only losing 2-0,” the Liverpool boss told TNT Sports after the game. “They had more chances than the only goals they scored.”

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