Liverpool manager Arne Slot has sounded the alarm ahead of their crucial Champions League second-leg clash with Paris Saint-Germain warning that his squad must improve drastically if they want to reach the quarter-finals.
Despite escaping Parc des Princes with a 1-0 advantage Liverpool were dominated by PSG, relying on goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s heroic performance** to survive the relentless attacks. The Brazilian described his nine-save masterclass as the performance of his life a damning indictment of how much Liverpool struggled.
Now, with PSG confident of overturning the deficit Slot has publicly challenged his squad expressing serious concerns over their lackluster performance against bottom-placed Southampton in a 3-1 win on Saturday. Liverpool trailed at halftime, forcing Slot to make three drastic substitutions and unleash furious dressing-room tirade to spark a comeback.
When I look at the PSG game, we need to step up in intensity. But if I compare it with today’s game, we need to go three, four, five, six, or even seven steps up if we want any chance of reaching the next round.
His brutal assessment comes as Liverpool, despite leading the Premier League by 15 points now face a defining week with PSG’s visit and the league Cup final against Newcastle on Sunday.
Meanwhile, PSG boss Luis Enrique remains defiant vowing that his side are going to do it further adding pressure to Slot’s underwhelming squad.
With Liverpool’s perfect European record at Anfield on the line fans are now questioning whether Slot’s team—despite their dominance in England—are truly prepared for the intensity of the Champions League knockout stages.
