After Paris Saint-Germain knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League at the Round of 16 stage, Arne Slot has a number of reasons to be upset.
Firstly, the defeat itself would be hurting the Liverpool boss as it occurred on penalties and that too at Anfield.
But secondly and perhaps more pertinently, Arne Slot will admit that PSG bossed his Reds side for a majority of the two legs.
Slot’s side have arguably been the best team in the world this season but the French giants showcased that they might be a cut above the soon-to-be Premier League champions.
Virgil van Dijk discussed Liverpool’s loss to PSG and revealed that he has told his teammates to stay focused on their targets this season.
Van Dijk’s fellow Dutchman will have to share the same mentality and not fixate excessively on a sole result.
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Arne Slot told Cody Gakpo was a “wasted substitution” during Liverpool vs PSG
But Arne Slot will be trying to break down why his Liverpool side were outplayed for much of the tie against PSG.
Slot might well be questioning his tactics as Luis Enrique’s fluid setup had his side in sixes and sevens for a majority of the two legs.
But Stephen Warnock felt that one mistake Arne Slot certainly made against PSG was bringing a seemingly unfit Cody Gakpo on against PSG.
Warnock said via BBC Sport: “Darwin Nunez didn’t have an affect on the game and Curtis Jones was poor when he came on. Cody Gakpo didn’t look fit. It looked like a wasted substitution from Liverpool.”
Arne Slot has transformed Gakpo but even so, the former PSV Eindhoven winger was barely involved after coming off the bench during extra-time to take Luis Diaz place.
While Gakpo has impressed in the Champions League, he was given a tall task to wreak havoc against the visitors when only just having returned from an ankle injury.
Cody Gakpo vs Luis Diaz stats during Liverpool vs PSG
The 25-year-old also had the difficult task of playing against Achraf Hakimi, who angered Liverpool fans.
Luis Diaz, who was taken off when the Dutch forward came on had a bright game and looked like the hosts’ most dangerous attacker at the time as well.
The statistics prove that Arne Slot may have made an error by subbing Gakpo on against PSG.
STATS VS PSG CODY GAKPO LUIS DIAZ
TOUCHES 4 54
DRIBBLES COMPLETED – 5/7
TOUCHES IN OPPOSITION BOX – 11
CHANCES CREATED – 1
SHOTS – 3
Diaz completed a match-high five dribbles, took 54 touches and three shots while having 11 touches in the opposition box and creating one chance.
The Colombian’s replacement, on the other hand touched the ball just four times and did not even take a penalty during the shootout.
Arne Slot has not made many mistakes at Liverpool but he might regret taking Diaz off for Gakpo and perhaps not testing out Federico Chiesa or just sticking with the former Porto man on the night.