Alan Shearer Exclusive: Liverpool can come back and pull off a shock against PSG | OneFootball

Liverpool can pull off a shock comeback against PSG

Last night could have been a lot worse for Liverpool and it should have been really.  2-0 didn't do PSG's performance justice. I thought they were outstanding. I totally understand why Arne Slot tried to change Liverpool's system because clearly with the system beforehand they were leaking goals left, right and centre so to try and change and do something different, that's fine. But they got away with it in terms of 2-0.

It'll be very, very difficult to overturn that scoreline but it's been done before. I was there for one of the greatest comebacks ever and the atmosphere at Anfield when they played Barcelona. It was 3-0 then. But it's a very different Liverpool team with a different mindset at this moment in time. They got away with 2-0. It could have been 4-0, 5-0 or 6-0 if PSG had their shooting boots on.

The big thing is that, because of the way Liverpool are defensively, they're fragile and all over the place. I guess that's why Slot tried to put another body in there to try and sure them up. But I wouldn't say it didn't work because it wasn't any worse than what we've seen with the back four.

The big thing is how on earth are they going to keep them out? Because if they get one goal at Anfield then that's pretty much Liverpool done.

Liverpool can come back and pull off a shock though, because Anfield is a very dangerous place once it gets rocking. And it will be rocking because that's what Anfield does, that's what the Liverpool fans do. They'll turn up and it'll be an unbelievable atmosphere because they'll need and want the team to survive.

My guess is Slot will change it back to a four. He'll play Mo Salah because they have to score goals. If they get the first goal then yes it could be, but I wouldn't be putting a lot of money on it, put it that way. Not with the way Liverpool are playing and not the way Liverpool are defending.

You're banking on Anfield. Anfield can be a really dangerous place when that place gets going for the opposition because we know what it's like, it'll be electric and the fans and the players can feed off that. If a comeback is going to happen, they're going to have to get that first goal and the crowd is going to have to be huge.

Salah and Van Dijk have been miles off it this season

I wouldn't say Slot's lost the dressing room, but I think what's happened is there are so many players that have lost their legs at the same time. I mean, two of the biggest players that have been the biggest players for years and years and years are miles off the standards. What we've seen in terms of Van Dijk and Salah.

I know it's always the big names that get the most criticism but the standards that those two have set over the years has been a huge part of Liverpool's success and obviously signed new deals last summer for two years. I think the big names always come in for more criticism but those two have been miles off it unfortunately and it looks as if their best days are certainly past them.

I understand why Arne Slot did drop Salah against PSG on Wednesday because he knew that for a lot of the time in Paris that we're going to be defending and, with all due respect, that's not Mo's strength and when you're not scoring 30 goals or 35 goals in the season, you can't get away with not defending in the modern game and that's not his strength.

Every game until the end of the season is huge for Liverpool

This weekends game against Fulham is massive for Liverpool and Slot. I guess every game for Liverpool in between now and the end of the season is, not just next week against Paris, but because of the obvious chance to get into the top five and get Champions League football, because financially it would be a huge hit for Liverpool not to.

But I guess there's so many teams saying that. Chelsea are saying that, Man United are saying that again. So, yeah, it's a huge game at the weekend, they have to bounce back.

Liverpool have to somehow find some energy from somewhere because, I know we've mentioned Salah and Van Dijk, but the lack of energy from Liverpool players in every position, not just in midfield, where they give that back for so much protection over particularly last season.

Newcastle will be back in for Elliot Anderson this summer

Elliot Anderson will have plenty of interest in the summer if he is available, I guess Newcastle will be back in for him as well. Which just puts a sour taste in your mouth because again, we go back to the PSR and what it was brought in for and what it was meant to do. It wasn't designed for you to sell your local players; it wasn't brought in for that. So, I don't like what you have to do with it. But there's no doubt that he's flourished since he left Newcastle.

He's going to be a starter for England in the World Cup, which will also enhance his reputation. He's a very, very good player. He's shown that this season. He's been given the opportunity at Nottingham Forest, has grabbed it with both hands and flourished. It would not surprise me.

I guess it all depends on what happens with Nottingham Forest as well, if they get relegated and what have you. That's one to keep an eye on. But if he does make it known he wants to leave, then there'll be no shortage of clubs that are after him.

Nick Woltemade has been a victim of what has happened to Newcastle this season

I think it's really early for Newcastle to sell Nick Woltemade. There's no doubt there's talent in there. We saw that when he first arrived but for whatever reason, and I guess there are multiple reasons. It's not just playing him in midfield because at times he did look laboured and slow. At times the pace, power and energy of the Premier League looked a little bit too much for him. But there's no doubt there's talent and ability in there.

I guess it's just about trying to get that out of him in whatever position because at the minute he hasn't suited Newcastle and Newcastle hasn't suited him particularly. He did have a good start but we haven't seen a lot of that, and he will say because he's been played out of position that he hasn't been at his best and I totally understand that and get that. I guess he's been a victim of what's happened at Newcastle this season, unfortunately for him.

Arsenal will have to pay over £100, for Anthony Gordon

Well, it is quite funny because if you believe every rumour, Tino Livramento's been linked, Lewis Hall's been linked, Sandro Tonali has been linked, and Bruno has been linked alongside Anthony Gordon. I mean, if every player leaves that's been linked with a move, Newcastle won't have any players left. It always happens more in the international break.

With all the columns, newspapers and with social media now, I guess it's a lot worse than it perhaps was. I guess, again, because of what's happened with Newcastle, clubs are going to try and come in and poach them if they don't qualify for Europe, which clearly doesn't look like they're going to unless they go on a remarkable run. It'll be an interesting summer. I do think that clubs will come in for players and Newcastle will have to stand firm.

It seemed a lot of money at the time when Newcastle signed Gordon. But I guess you'd have to start, if you're talking about an England international forward who's got a really good chance of starting for England, then you'd have to probably get over £100 million to have a chance of signing Gordon.

Arsenal responded very well to their recent setbacks

I did the commentary on both of Arsenal's previous two games, so I was in the ground at Southampton and I was in the ground in Lisbon. I know Arteta made big changes on Tuesday with one of those big changes was Raya coming back in. I mean, the save he pulled off was one of the best you'll see this season early on in the game. I think that was such an important point of the game because if that goes in, you can imagine how fragile Arsenal are and would have been after those two losses.

It was a tough place to go to Lisbon. It was a really good atmosphere. They were a decent team. Their record at home is phenomenal. They've won every single Champions League game they've played there this season so that tells you how difficult it was.

I thought Arsenal worked hard without being spectacular. Their squad rotation worked for them again because the subs he brought on in Martinelli and Havertz. Dowman came on as well, but Martinelli set up Havertz for the goal.

This could be a defining weekend for Arsenal

This weekend is massive because they got rid of a bit of pressure in midweek, but the pressure is now back in terms of the Premier League. If they were to answer in the same way with a win, particularly with Chelsea playing Man City the next day, I think this weekend could be huge and I think if Arsenal win this weekend, then I think they could go on a bit of a run.

Momentum in any sport is huge. That's why the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup was such a blow for Arsenal. They've got their win back, whether they deserve it or not, it doesn't matter, they've got the win. And if they were to get another one this weekend, I can see them going on a run.

If they don't win the league, it will be a huge failure because of how long they've been at the top and this gap that they had. Imagine the noise that would be there with them finishing second three times on the spin.

Don't expect to see Olise back in the Premier League anytime soon

Depending on what happens with Bayern Munich this season, I'd be amazed if they were to let Olise go. And even if he wants to go. They've got potential to be European champions. But they've also got one of the best forward lines around in Olise, Diaz and in Harry Kane.

They're three brilliant players who will punish you and hurt you. And that's exactly what happened in midweek. But he's a brilliant talent. Some of his skill, movement and his ability to run with the ball is outstanding.

Harry Maguire deserves his new contract at Man United

I think Harry Maguire deserves his new contract at Manchester United. I think it's a one-year deal and I guess at that age, I think he's been a brilliant leader, and his best attribute is his character because I think at times he's been spoken about in not so good terms but that didn't affect him and didn't bother him.

I think the way he's handled that and then put himself back in contention for an England call-up, he deserves an extra season to go again.

Sunderland is a tough place to go for De Zerbi's first game

This weekend is a really tough game for De Zerbi's first in charge of Spurs. He's had three weeks, or probably the club has had three weeks, he's probably had two, to try and get his ideas across to try and somehow make it a happy camp or happier camp than it has been. That's been a huge job of his as well. It's not only tactics, but it's to instil some confidence, belief and the feel-good factor into his players because they've been hammered for a long time now.

They've got a really tough first game for him at Sunderland away. We've seen what Sunderland have done this season, seen what they did to Newcastle both home and away and to other clubs so it's a really, really tough game. If they can get out of there with a point, then it would be a really good result.

Spurs have been battered everywhere, they need to build their confidence

For Spurs a lot of it is about mentally. There's not too much physically they can work on at this stage of the season when there's so little games left. So, a lot of it is mentally and getting his players to believe in what he is, who he is and what ideas he's trying to put across and trying to put a smile on his players faces as well. As I said, for such a long time now, they've just been battered in newspapers, on social media, on television and everywhere.

It has been negative every single week so a huge part of his job is trying to get some belief into his squad.

Spurs have been so poor for such a long time now. I know they won the trophy last season, but in the Premier League as well, for large parts of the season, everything about Spurs has been negative.

What a weekend of sport, I'll be glued to the Masters

I can't wait for the Masters to start, I've looked at all the TV times and who is teeing off when. Other than Saturday, I'll be spending large parts of my weekend watching the golf from when it starts up until when the coverage finishes. I love my golf and I love the Masters. I have been there six times.

It was great watching parts of the par three competition yesterday, but this is where it really gets serious.

The three I would probably go for would be Justin Rose, because he always gives you value for money around Augusta and seems to really enjoy it there. Rory, I would say, because I still think it's going to go one way for him, either be amazing or he could miss the cut, and Scottie Scheffler I would say is the other one.

My best Augusta memory is either Danny Willett winning it or Tiger winning it. I took my son when Tiger won it. That story in itself was amazing, but it's just, it's unique. It's very different. You've got no phones, the respect around the golf course. The golf course is just immaculate and it's just very different.

How it works in terms of the seats around the greens and everyone can sit in any seat if it's available. But once the owner of that seat comes back, then you have to get up and give them back their seats. It's very unique and very different to anything that I've ever been to in a sporting event, but it's so brilliant. It's incredible.