Arne Slot faced a number of questions on his shock formation change vs. Paris Saint-Germain, but insisted it was “not the story” of Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat.
Liverpool arrived for the biggest game of their season so far prepared to sit deep and defend, with Slot fielding a five-man defence and leaving Mohamed Salah out.
It meant three centre-backs in Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez with Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez operating as wing-backs – and it proved an abject failure.
PSG were unfortunate to come away with only a 2-0 win and unsurprisingly Slot’s setup was the dominant focus in his post-match press conference.
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What was your thinking in the change of formation tonight? How do you feel that went?
“They have pace from everywhere, all over the pitch. It doesn’t matter where you look, you see pace, incredible pace. Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are an unbelievable offensive threat, aside from all the others. We played them with Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, so that was the thought behind it. In that way I thought we could try to press them really high and aggressive.
“If you press Hakimi and if you press Nuno Mendes, they play and they start to sprint – actually it’s not even sprinting, it’s a level above sprinting – and you have to cope with that. Usually – usually – players like Jeremie and Milos are better equipped for that than out-and-out wingers.
“But I think we could also see that every time we tried to press them high and aggressive those were also the moments where we were completely ripped apart. I think that led to five or six big chances for them, when we tried to be high and aggressive. That tells you how difficult it is to play against this team. We try to do this in a high press with the players I just told you and in a low block – more defenders on the pitch, tighter, more aggression – and bringing Joe in you add some set-piece quality as well.”
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's (L-R) Hugo Ekitike is substituted off as Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones wait to come on during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In terms of the system, you’ve not used it before, is it to be a one-off for this one or something going forward?
“There seems to be a lot of focus on the system, but what is the difference if I would have played let’s say Rio or Cody Gakpo as a left winger? Milos had to play almost as a left winger facing Hakimi, and then there were four defenders left which we usually have.
“I could also explain this as a 4-3-3 with Florian on the right, Hugo in the middle and Milos on the left, three midfielders, four defenders. But because they are defensive-minded people now see it as a five – that’s the way I would describe it by the way as well, but I think the margins are really small.
“Just try to think about it, what if we would have played with real wingers today, how would that have looked against Hakimi and Nuno Mendes?”
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté (R) challenges Paris Saint-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
What will be your approach for your match at home? You had a tactic tonight but it didn’t prevent PSG from holding the ball, from scoring two goals, how will you manage that?
“My first question to that is have you ever seen a team playing a tactic over here that didn’t allow Paris Saint-Germain to constantly have the ball and to create chance after chance after chance? I’ve watched many games and there was always the same pattern and almost always the same pattern as you saw tonight. They just outplay almost every opponent that they play here.
“I think now first of all it’s time for me to reflect on this game but focus mainly on the Fulham game, and then we will try to come up with a game plan that will hopefully show a different game at Anfield. I’ve said this now a few times already that if you want to press really aggressive, then fans can be really helpful. The atmosphere being loud, it can just give you that bit extra which you sometimes need.
“It’s clear and obvious that we will not play the same tactic as we played tonight. But as I also mentioned, Milos 10 yards further up or 10 yards further back means it’s a 4-3-3. It’s completely fine with me if everyone wants to focus on the tactic, but for me that’s absolutely not the story of the game today.
“Every tactic has been tried over here, but the result is always the same: Paris Saint-Germain blowing the opponent away.”