Liverpool head coach Arne Slot described their latest match as "the best game of football I was ever involved in," following a captivating contest between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The dramatic match ended with Liverpool being defeated 4-1 on penalties, after a 1-1 aggregate score in their last-16 tie. The second leg at Anfield concluded with a 1-0 victory for PSG, marking a poignant end to Liverpool's Champions League journey.
Slot's Liverpool squad now turns its attention to Wembley, where they aim to secure their first silverware of the season against Newcastle. Despite the setback, Slot expressed admiration for the beauty of the match, noting the thrilling competition on display. Liverpool had previously been outplayed in Paris but managed a late victory thanks to Harvey Elliott's goal, which set the stage for a promising second leg.
"It was the best game of football I was ever involved in." – Arne Slot
The initial 20-25 minutes saw Slot's team dominate, leading him to believe they would comfortably secure a win. However, PSG's resilient performance in the first leg was countered by an impressive showing from Liverpool in the return fixture. The tiny margins between the teams highlighted the unpredictable nature of football—a sentiment echoed by Slot, who acknowledged the role of luck in such closely contested games.
"Incredible performance, especially compared to last week. Probably it was almost the opposite, maybe we ran out of luck because the margins were so small." – Arne Slot
Slot lamented Liverpool's early exit from the competition, feeling it was unfair given their strong position earlier in the tournament. Yet, he also recognized the inherent beauty in facing a team like PSG, where global audiences could appreciate the high-quality football on display. He reflected on how luck favored Liverpool in Paris but seemed absent at Anfield.
"It feels unfair to go out at this round already. You're at the top of the table then you face a team like PSG, but that's also the nice part about football. Everybody around the world enjoyed watching this game and the margins are small, and if you want to win it you have to have some luck, we had it last week, I don't think we had it today." – Arne Slot
Virgil van Dijk shared similar sentiments, describing the match as intense and a great experience despite the disappointment. He believed Liverpool deserved more than a 1-0 deficit after 90 minutes and noted that except for the last five minutes, when PSG threatened a few times, Liverpool played a nearly perfect game—much like PSG did in Paris without converting their chances.
"It was very intense, a great game of football to be part of. After 90 minutes it felt we deserved more than being 1-0 down. I was waiting for us to score. I don't think the second half, apart from the last five minutes, when they threatened us once or twice. We played the perfect game, except for scoring goals, it was the same for PSG last week when they played the perfect game and didn't score, and it happened to us today." – Virgil van Dijk
Despite these efforts, Liverpool's energy waned in the second half, and Slot's substitutions failed to make an impact this time around. This allowed PSG to maintain their advantage and ultimately triumph in the penalty shootout.
Jamie Carragher also recognized that PSG deservedly won the tie, acknowledging their overall superiority across both legs. As Liverpool regroups for future challenges, Van Dijk emphasized readiness for upcoming matches and the importance of moving forward positively.
"We need to be ready for next challenge" – Virgil van Dijk
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