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Liverpool fell to a 2-0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
Arne Slot has explained why he opted to leave Mo Salah on the bench as Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions were plunged into jeopardy.
The Reds’ 2-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg means they are on the verge of exiting the competition - and keeps head coach Slot under pressure.
Despite Slot opting to deploy a five-man defence against the reigning European champions at the Parc des Princes, it proved futile. PSG constantly overpowered Liverpool and the French side’s triumph could have been more emphatic only for their profligacy in the final third.
Slot didn’t make changes until the 78th minute, but Salah - who was omitted from the starting line-up - remained unused. Despite the winger enduring a difficult season, and leaving in the summer, he is Liverpool’s third all-time top goalscorer and would have added fresh legs in the final third.
However, Slot suggested keeping the scoreline down was more important. “I think the last part of the game was more about surviving for us,” said the Liverpool boss. “If there was ever a chance, you never know because last season [against PSG] we scored five minutes before the end - Harvey Elliott when I took Mo off.
“But I think this was a 20-25 minutes when we were only defending. Mo has so much quality but for Mo to be defending for 20-25 minutes in his own box, it is better for him to save his energy for the games coming up in the upcoming weeks.”
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