Liverpool are out of the Champions League after a nervy penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain
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Liverpool's Darwin Nunez (second right) and team-mates react during the penalty shoot-out
Liverpool are out of the Champions League after losing to PSG (Image: PA)
Liverpool are out of the Champions League after a nervy penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain, as they were unable to make their away goal in the reverse fixture count - and fans in the ECHO comments section are dissecting the Round of 16 exit as the club turn their minds to the Carabao Cup final.
The Reds faced a difficult tie against one of the stronger teams in the competition and Ousmane Dembele's twelfth-minute goal cancelled out Harvey Elliott's heroic effort in the first leg. PSG played well on a daunting Anfield trip, but they were kept at bay by the tired Reds for the rest of the 90 minutes and extra time.
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Mohamed Salah would be the only scorer for Liverpool in the penalties, with Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones missing their efforts. Alisson was beaten four times to seal the win for PSG. Speaking after the game, Arne Slot said: "Of course it is a shock and it is maybe not the moment to tell them now... but if you have to go out, go out to one of the best teams in Europe. I hope every fan around the world was hoping this game kept on going because it was incredible."
He added: "I do feel at the end of the season how we represented ourselves in Europe is important. This season we really showed ourselves, we won seven games in a row."
But Slot's encouraging words did little to dampen the blow for some fans. Reader Pangpang123 says: “I really felt Slot got it wrong in this game. I think Slot was trying to prove a point today. He set up the team with such high-line defence, and high pressing. Trying to dominate.
"It worked in the first 10 mins. I would have to say if Salah took one of his chances, it would have been a different game. But if you look at PSG side, their front three with their pace, we knew this would happen. It looks so easy for them to run in behind the defence. We had a goal lead, playing at home, why did we need to play as we played? We could have sat back, controlled the game, and forced PSG to come forward.”
Commenter Canadadan writes: “Thought we second best to everything in the first half. Midfield got overrun and we got picked off, mainly due to too many touches, and it always led to a chance. Salah just kept showing the ball to defenders and losing it, although he got better for about 20 mins, he just wasn't there today.
"Great response second half but what a disappointment from the subs. Gakpo didn't even touch the ball, Jones isn't the answer anywhere, Elliott looks unfit and Nunez just needs to be sold. It just fell apart when they came on. I felt all strikers today gave the ball away too much. All around we need investment. Fabinho and Matip should have both had replacements, that would have been the difference today for me.”
Rosscoltd says: “Whilst the effort was good, we are overthinking the final third, trying to walk it in. We brought on Nunez and did not play to his strengths at all, last week showed us what to do. In all parts of the pitch passes were delayed or another dribble attempted needlessly, and quite often a much simpler pass was available. Macca and Jones particularly guilty of taking such risks in the middle of the park, and invariably lost possession.”
Slot was right to praise PSG, says TGM: “We've just been knocked out by a side that look well set to go the whole way. They're a superb outfit & I can only see Real getting near them now. As for us we'd have all jumped at being where we are right now back in August.
"What is clear though is a big rebuild is required this summer. It's just whether FSG will fund it or not, history says not. Still as long as we win number 20, that's the main thing.”
Moneyballs agrees on the transfer point: “FSG take note, our boys are out on their feet and the quality from the bench isn't up to Champions League quality to come in and replace them! It's Deja-vu from the last 4 seasons, with not enough investment in the squad! We finished with a CB at right back and a DM at CB and who knows what CJ is? Lets hope the boys can raise themselves for the Carabao Cup final, otherwise the rest of the season could be a hard slog to get over that finish line.”
Despite the bleak outlook of the final commenter, Liverpool remain 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League and on course for a league and Carabao Cup double.
Have your say! What could Slot have done differently to secure progression in the Champions League? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.