Champions League: No European relief for Slot and Liverpool
Liverpool manager Arne Slot (centre) shouts instructions during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match at Parc des Princes, Paris. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire
No matter how bad things were at Anfield, the games in Europe were always seen as an opportunity for Liverpool to show something else, to rediscover themselves, to show their value against the best teams on the continent. At the very least it was a nice distraction.
However, the situation on Merseyside this season seems to require a bigger distraction than a European night can provide for the reigning Premier League champions, as the humiliating FA Cup defeat at the hands of Man City last Saturday only increased the attention being focused on Arne Slot and his beleaguered side when they faced PSG on Wednesday.
Unhappy Liverpool fans hoped there would be response in Paris, but what they got was a timid performance from the Reds, who started with an unusual back five defensive set up, that appeared to simply be the tactic of holding PSG at arm’s length in order to return to Anfield with something to play for. Unfortunately, that strategy went out the window pretty quick when Desire Doue’s shot was wickedly deflected over Giorgi Mamardashvilli off Ryan Gravenberch’s heel after just 11 minutes.
The remaining action in the first half saw Liverpool chasing PSG shadows, while TV viewers at home had the strange sensation of being able to hear Slot screaming instructions to his team to go forward, even over the din of a very loud Paris crowd. But while he screamed at them to get forward, it contradicted his defensive formation, and the players seemed confused as to what was required from them. Which is not what you want to see from your team when you are over three quarters the way into the season.
Players that were heroes of the championship-winning run last season, like Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister looked like disoriented rookies as to what was their role on the pitch and were probably looking at Slot on the sideline as much as the players they were marking. They seemed unsure whether to hold their shape or step out. Leadership on the field was conspicuously absent.
It spoke volumes that Liverpool’s standout performers on the night were keeper Mamardashvilli and defender Joe Gomez. Further up the field, creativity was totally missing and subsequently, Liverpool were then undone by an excellent team goal, finished off beautifully by Khvicha Kvaratskheila. Notably, Liverpool, even with their extensive defensive lines, could not even lay a finger on him as he ghosted through the defence and around Mamardashvilli.
The harsh truth is it could and maybe should have been far worse for Liverpool. Slot would have had little to argue about had PSG scored five or six. Liverpool remain technically alive in the tie, and a European night at Anfield still carries myth and menace, but unless there is a seismic improvement, the Parisians are more likely to extend their advantage than surrender it. For Slot, the Champions League now represents the last realistic shot at silverware — and possibly his job. Overturning the Paris deficit would require something close to the miracle of the 4–0 comeback against Barcelona in 2019. But that was an inspired, fearless Liverpool under an inspirational Jürgen Klopp. This version of the team bears little resemblance.
The small crumb of comfort this week for Slot, apart from the welcome return to play of Alexander Isak, was the confirmation that fifth place in the Premier League will secure Champions League qualification next season. Liverpool currently occupy that final spot and if they can hold on to it Slot may secure his position at Anfield. But with the form they have shown this season, that position is precarious to say the least and the side are immediately back in battle when they face a very tricky home game against a handy Fulham side tomorrow, with a place in Europe and Slot’s job now on the line.
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