Slot Sets the Tone for Liverpool’s Must-Win Night vs PSG | OneFootball

Slot’s Plan for PSG: Liverpool Must Step Up at Anfield

Arne Slot has made it crystal clear—Liverpool cannot afford a repeat of their sluggish starts when Paris Saint-Germain arrive at Anfield for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash. The Dutchman’s programme notes set the tone for what is expected to be an intense European night under the lights.

High Stakes at Anfield

Liverpool travel into the second leg with a narrow 1-0 advantage, but anyone who watched the first game knows the scoreline flattered them. PSG dominated possession, registered 27 shots, and forced Liverpool onto the back foot for long stretches.

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That same sense of vulnerability surfaced again in the Premier League against Southampton, where Liverpool started poorly, conceding early before a second-half revival saw them claim a 3-1 win. Against a PSG side full of pace and firepower, a slow start could be disastrous.

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Slot Demands a Response

Slot’s message ahead of the PSG clash is clear: standards must be maintained from the first whistle. Speaking in his programme notes, he made it clear that Liverpool’s first-half performance at the weekend was unacceptable.

“The standards that we set ourselves are always high, which is why it is unacceptable when we fall below them,” Slot wrote. “This happened in the first half of our game against Southampton on Saturday and we saw how difficult any game can be if we do not show the football characteristics that others expect of us, and we expect of ourselves. This cannot happen tonight.”

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Energy Levels Must Be Higher

A packed Anfield on a European night is a weapon Liverpool must use to their advantage. Slot emphasised that the team must play at a far greater intensity than they did against Southampton, ensuring they match PSG’s energy levels from the first whistle.

“The idea for tonight is that the energy levels we will play with will be much higher than they were in that first half,” he continued. “They will also be higher still than they were in the second half even though we produced a much better performance in that period. The intensity that PSG produced against us set a standard and we have to meet that challenge. This means stepping up a number of levels.”

Key Players Return

Liverpool have received a timely boost with Cody Gakpo returning from injury, adding another attacking option. However, the Reds will still be without Tyler Morton, Conor Bradley, and Joe Gomez.

Photo: IMAGO

Slot’s plan is clear—Liverpool must be sharper, hungrier, and more aggressive. With PSG eager to overturn their deficit, it will take a disciplined and high-intensity performance to see the Reds through to the next round.