Jamie Carragher and Arne Slot.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool’s hopes of European glory came to a painful end on Tuesday night as Paris Saint-Germain prevailed in a penalty shootout at Anfield, eliminating the Reds from the Champions League at the last-16 stage. T
he defeat, while devastating for Arne Slot’s side, comes with the consolation that Liverpool remain in pole position for Premier League success and have an immediate opportunity for redemption in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.
For Liverpool supporters, the pain of European elimination will linger, but the prospect of a domestic double remains very much alive.
With the Premier League title seemingly within grasp and an immediate opportunity for silverware this weekend, the season that once promised a potential treble could still conclude with significant success.
How they respond to this setback, beginning with Sunday’s final at Wembley, will reveal much about the character and determination of this Liverpool team under Slot’s guidance.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher experienced the heartbreak from an unusual perspective, watching from the Kop End as a Liverpool supporter.
Television cameras captured the CBS Sports analyst looking visibly dejected as the penalty shootout unfolded.
And speaking after the game, the Liverpool legend revealed that he did not understand that PSG were able to go first in the penalty shoot-out as well as choose the end to kick from:
“One thing I couldn’t work out with the penalties was, obviously there was a coin toss with Virgil van Dijk [and PSG’s captain],” he said post-match as quoted by the Mirror.
“PSG must’ve won it to take it to the other end [away from the Kop] but then also took the first penalty. So I wasn’t quite sure what happened there.”
“Normally you only get one advantage and the other team gets the first penalty… but PSG deserved to go through.”
Jamie Carragher’s confusion over Liverpool’s double disadvantage against PSG was quickly alleviated by former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, who provided clarification during the commentary:
“It’s the referee’s call on which side it is on the coin. It will be one side for one side of the coin and the other side of the pitch for the other side of the coin.”
“Then the captains will decide and if he’s the lucky one he’ll decide either to take the first or second penalty. But it’s the referee’s call on the first coin toss at which end it will be.”
The immediate focus now shifts to Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley, where Liverpool have an opportunity to secure the first trophy of the Slot era.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.