Liverpool were soundly beaten 2-0 away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, with journalist Henry Winter bemoaning Arne Slot’s approach.
The Reds have one foot out of Europe after a limp showing in France on Wednesday evening, and the only positive was that they didn’t lose by more.
Slot went with a three-man defence, using Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez as wing-backs, explaining his choice of tactics after the game.
“They have pace from everywhere, all the pitch, so it doesn’t just matter where you look you see pace and incredible pace,” Slot said.
“[Achraf] Hakimi and Nuno Mendes are unbelievable offensive threats apart from all the others. So, we played them with Jeremie Frimpong and with Milos Kerkez, so that was the thought behind it.
“And that way I thought we could try to press them really high and aggressive because Jeremie and Milos are also two players… if you press Hakimi and if you press Nuno Mendes they play and they start to run more.
“They don’t start to run, by the way, they start to sprint and actually it’s not even sprinting, it’s just a level above sprinting and you have to cope with that.”
Writing on X, Winter wasn’t impressed with such a negative approach, saying it wasn’t befitting of Liverpool in the Champions League:
“Courage has usually defined Liverpool’s play, especially in Europe. Courage, not caution. Wanting the ball, wanting to take the game to the opposition, embracing the challenge. There was little courage in Liverpool’s set-up, actions or substitutions against PSG. Sad to see.”
Another nail in Arne Slot’s coffin at Liverpool
Wednesday’s game was wholly predictable, in terms of PSG’s dominance and Liverpool’s lack of quality, and a miracle is needed at Anfield next week.
This is becoming a season that cannot end soon enough for the Reds, and the only hope is that Slot can sneak a top-five finish in the Premier League, prior to being sacked in the summer.
Many would relieve the Dutchman of his duties right now, myself included, giving Steven Gerrard the job until the end of the season before Xabi Alonso potentially comes in.
This simply hasn’t been good enough from Slot from August onwards, and while he shouldn’t take sole blame, the players look uninspired and unfit, which is down to him and his coaching team.