Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool faced off this Wednesday at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their 2025-2026 Champions League quarter-final (the second leg is on April 14). The match ended in a 2-0 victory for PSG. After the game, Liverpool manager Arne Slot spoke at a press conference.
Slot: “Last season, we played a very different game at Anfield.”
What are your chances of qualifying?
Probably, I have to look back to last season, to the club’s history, to the impact of Anfield on matches. We were largely dominated in the first leg last season, despite the result. PSG were clearly the better team tonight; they could have scored more than two goals.
But the good thing is that the Liverpool players showed fighting spirit; they kept going. For almost every shot, we had players protecting the goal. It was necessary. Otherwise, we wouldn’t come back; these players can really hurt you. Last season, we played a very different match at Anfield; we could have been 2-0 up in 10 minutes. But we need to do better in the return leg. We’ll need the fans to create an atmosphere that allows us to raise our level compared to tonight.
Slot: “That tells you how difficult it is to play against this team.”
The change in formation (switching to a back three)?
PSG has speed everywhere. Hakimi and Nuno Mendes have incredible speed, and in addition to the others, they are major threats. We wanted to press them, but not just any old way. Otherwise, these two players can sprint, even at an even higher level.
But we also saw that our periods of pressure were also the periods when we were taken apart. Five or six times, they had great chances when we tried to press high up the pitch. That tells you how difficult it is to play against this team. A low block means we leave less space.
Why didn’t Salah play?
In the last part of the match, it was more about survival for us than scoring. Although you never know, like last year. For the last 20 minutes, we just defended. Salah has great qualities, but he’s not meant to defend in his own half for 20 minutes. It was better for him to save his energy for later.
Slot: “PSG were the better team”
Against this team, was a large part of the match in survival mode?
That’s not the plan; we want to press high and create mistakes. But it’s a good way to describe a large part of the match. It’s also kind of that time of year, in survival mode. We want to create more, but it’s very difficult against this team here. It was the same last year.
PSG were the better team, but we didn’t give up. There’s still hope. They kept us alive by not scoring on a few clear chances. Now we can turn things around at Anfield. Before that, we have an important match against Fulham.
Slot: “Anything can change quickly.”
Will the system return?
There’s a focus on the system. But we weren’t that far from playing as usual; these are details that need explaining. The differences are very subtle. But try to think about the match with true wingers, against Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.
Is there still hope for the semi-final?
Of course, football has already shown that anything is possible. Atlético beat Barça 2-0 after a red card. Anything can change quickly. And don’t forget that Anfield can change a lot of things. After the defeat against Galatasaray, it was the same mindset. But in the return leg, we played one of the best matches of the season. We need our fans against PSG.
Slot: “All tactics have been tried here, but PSG have almost always swept aside the opposition.”
How do we approach the return leg, given that our defensive tactics still conceded chances?
Have you ever seen a team with a tactic here that prevents PSG from having the ball and creating chances? They dominate almost everyone here. We have to think about this match, but also about the return leg, with a plan that will allow us to have a different kind of match at Anfield. To press aggressively, the fans can help provide that little extra something that’s needed. It’s clear we won’t have the same tactics.
But these are details, even if everyone wants to focus on the formation. But that’s not the story of the match. Every tactic was tried here, but PSG almost always swept aside their opponents.
Slot: “I’m confident, we’ll play a similar match to last year’s.”
Was the difference made by Hakimi and Nuno Mendes?
No, but we have to be very tight on them where they accelerate. But if we close them down too much, their wingers win their duels against everyone. They’re a very difficult team, with many options. But I’m confident that we can show something different in the second half. I’m confident we’ll play a similar match to last year’s.
