Liverpool’s Champions League destiny will be shaped at Anfield on Tuesday as they take a slender 1-0 advantage into the second leg of their last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
Arne Slot’s side were placed under relentless pressure in Paris but somehow emerged victorious.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker produced one of his finest performances, making nine saves as PSG racked up 27 shots without scoring.
Liverpool had just two attempts all game, but Harvey Elliott’s 87th-minute strike was enough to tilt the tie in their favour.
The manner of that first-leg win has been widely debated, with some people claiming Liverpool were fortunate. Slot disagreed.
“I think they played tremendously well,” he said. “I don’t think we have played a team this season who combined that much quality with intensity.”
Liverpool’s defensive resilience was tested to the limit, but the second leg presents a different challenge. They will need more control and composure in possession at Anfield.
“We are hoping to have more of the ball than last week,” Slot added. “They exhausted us a bit by constantly pressing, and if you get the ball, sometimes you’re too tired to execute perfectly.”
PSG are no strangers to Champions League disappointment. They have never won the competition, with collapses in high-stakes ties an unwanted theme.
Their performance in Paris was dominant, but the end product was missing. They responded in style at the weekend, dismantling Rennes 4-1.
Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos were on target before Ousmane Dembele added two late goals. It was the perfect response, ensuring they head to England in high spirits.
Liverpool’s home form will be crucial. They have not lost at Anfield in 90 minutes since October 2022, while PSG’s last victory on English soil came in 2020 against Manchester United.
Despite this, Slot is under no illusions about the threat they pose. “Let’s be honest here, we are talking about probably the richest club,” he said.
“They have so much quality and a great manager who brings an incredible work rate to the team.”
PSG boss Luis Enrique claimed the winner of this tie would reach the final, a statement Slot acknowledged but did not fully endorse.
“Both we and PSG are teams, along with three or four others, that are good enough to reach the final,” he said. “But because it is only two games, luck and bad luck can be decisive.”
This is the kind of European night Anfield thrives on, and Liverpool will need every ounce of their pedigree to fend off PSG’s onslaught. A season-defining 90 minutes awaits.
