Liverpool’s Arne Slot Drops Tactical Plan to Overcome PSG’s Impressive Strength in Round of 16 | OneFootball

Liverpool have been in excellent form this season, but after a weekend off, they’ll enter their Champions League first-leg clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes either feeling refreshed or slightly out of rhythm.

Nonetheless, the time off might have been used to analyze how to confront a PSG’s pressing, and on Tuesday, Arne Slot revealed what his side needs to do to complete that part of the opposition’s tactical plan.

Before turning their attention to Europe, Liverpool maintained their momentum with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday.

PSG, on the other hand, were dominant over the weekend, cruising to a 4-1 win over LOSC Lille, with all four goals coming in the first half. Arne Slot’s side arrives at this match unbeaten in their last five games, with three wins and two draws.

Luis Enrique’s team, meanwhile, is riding a 10-match winning streak and hasn’t lost in 22 games across all competitions. This sets up an exciting showdown between two in-form teams as the 2024-25 season nears its end.

Arne Slot comments on how to beat PSG’s pressing in the Round of 16

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The Liverpool manager spoke to the press and was asked how the Reds will combat PSG’s intense pressing and here’s what Slot had to say to that question.

“I think we have to show in every part of our game the best possible performance from this season,” Slot said (h/t Liverpoolfc.com). “It’s not easy to dominate ball possession against Paris Saint-Germain because they take a lot of risk when they press.

“They go man-to-man all over the pitch, which makes it hard for many teams to have a lot of ball possession against them. So, we have to adapt really well to what is in front of us.”

“I’ve also seen a few games – mainly in the beginning of the season, for example, against Arsenal – where they were not as aggressive as they were in the last 10 or 15 games. That period of the season showed a different approach when it came to pressing.

“So, in every part of our game, we have to be on top and the best possible version of ourselves. That can mean that we have to do really well on the counter-attack. If they give us a bit more time, we have to be really good with the ball.

“And when they have the ball, they are – I think Luis Enrique said it himself – one of the best teams, or the best team, in Europe. He is definitely right.”