Jamie Carragher joined the criticism of Arne Slot‘s back-five system against Paris Saint-Germain, with the head coach getting his tactics “massively wrong.”
Slot sacrificed his tactical ideals to field a 3-4-2-1 formation at the Parc des Princes, which resulted in one of Liverpool’s worst performances of his tenure.
It was chaotic from the first whistle and PSG will be disappointed to only come away with a 2-0 victory after squandering a number of chances and seeing Giorgi Mamardashvili make four saves.
But while Liverpool have theoretically kept the tie alive ahead of the return leg at Anfield, Carragher was one of many left startled by Slot’s approach.
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“That was like watching a team from a lower division. The gulf in class was very worrying from a Liverpool point of view,” he said on CBS Sports.
“In some ways it’s actually a great result for Liverpool because it could and should have really been five or six in that game.
“The gulf between the two teams was absolutely startling really.
“When you consider last season, yes Liverpool got battered at PSG and they won 1-0, we know that, but the second leg at Anfield was a really close game, two top teams.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives final instructions for head coach Arne Slot before coming on for his first appearance since January 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)
“Liverpool then go and spend £450 million, probably a lot more than PSG spent, in the summer and to see the gulf there, it’s worrying.
“How’s it got to that? How’s it got that bad, really?
“The manager, how he set up tonight, he’s tried something – OK, he’s tried something – but he’s got it massively wrong tactically.
“He went about it all wrong with the back five. They were actually more open with the back five than they would be with a back four, because they went man-to-man all over the pitch and your three centre-backs had to cover the width of the pitch.
‘Van Dijk will be pleading with Slot to never play that system again’
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk 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)
“For Virgil van Dijk, watching him tonight in the middle of a back three, normally you get to a certain age you think ‘middle of a back three, perfect for me that’.
“Everyone’s in position, you get a bit of protection, you’re in your back five. This was different.
“Defenders were jumping into midfield, there was no one to mark, and Virgil van Dijk at 34 years of age was having to run in there, was having to run across. He couldn’t do it.
“People have criticised Van Dijk this season for his performances. I think it has been harsh.
“He plays every game, the fella next to him’s just been awful all season, poor again tonight Konate, makes a mistake every game. So that’s not easy to play alongside.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk reacts to conceding the second goal 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)
“I still think he’s been one of Liverpool’s better players Virgil van Dijk, but tonight in that back three, I’ve never seen him so uncomfortable in a Liverpool shirt in my life.
“I think he’ll be pleading with Arne Slot to never play that system ever again. He found it so tough.
“But I must also say it’s not just the system of Liverpool and getting it wrong tactically, PSG were absolutely out of this world.
“The biggest compliment I can give them is it was like Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.”