Soccer
'We were ripped apart' - Liverpool coach Arne Slot delivers brutal verdict on PSG defeat
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Liverpool manager Arne Slot did not hold back when reacting to his team's 2-0 defeat to PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Reds travelled to Paris on Wednesday for the first leg of their tie against the defending champions, and it was a performance to forget.
Following a 4-0 defeat to Manchester City at the weekend, the same issues appeared for Liverpool in the French capital, with PSG beating the press and losing control of the match in quick time.
Liverpool in 'survival mode' following defeat
With the pressure constantly mounting on Slot, his post-match press conference saw him attempt to deliver a reality check to his players.
After Khivcha Kvaratskhelia scored PSG's second, Liverpool opted for damage limitation ahead of Tuesday's second leg at Anfield with Slot labelling the performance as "survival mode".
"In the last part of the game, it was more about surviving," Slot said.
"I think this was 20 to 25 minutes where we were only defending.
"We were in survival mode for large parts of the game, but may be that’s also for the period of the season that we’re in."
One reason for Liverpool's downfall was the decision to have fullback Milos Kerkez and winger Jermaine Frimpong part of the high press. This decision left plenty of space for PSG to exploit, and had Liverpool on the back foot for the majority of the match.
Slot acknowledged this error, stating his team were "completely ripped apart" whenever they attempted to press PSG.
"I thought we could try and press them really high and aggressive because Jeremaine and Milos are two players who if you press Hakimi, if you press Nuno Mendes, usually those two players are better equipped for that than out and out wingers.
"But I think every time we tried to press them high and aggressive, those are the moments where we were completely ripped apart."
Liverpool were fortunate to leave Paris with a two-goal deficit, which could have easily been more and would have put the tie to bed.
No doubt the classic 'European Nights at Anfield' cliche will be trotted out in the build-up, and more than ever, Slot will be hoping to harness the energy from a passionate fanbase to give his team the extra edge in a Champions League tie which many already believe is over.
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