Arne Slot set Liverpool up to put pressure on Paris Saint-Germain, but the inclusion of Alexander Isak didn’t help boost the team’s intensity.
While Liverpool were the more threatening team, Ousmane Dembele’s moment of quality to score past Giorgi Mamardashvili killed the momentum building at Anfield.
With the atmosphere at kick-off close to some of L4’s great nights, the fans played their part and the players worked hard.
However, once Liverpool got to the edge of the PSG area they just didn’t have the quality to finish in the way we saw Dembele calmly place his opener at the other end of the ground.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak (R) challenges for a header with Paris Saint-Germain's captain Marcos Aoás Corrêa 'Marquinhos' during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Usually, Isak would be considered one of those who could provide that moment of composure, but he hasn’t been fully fit all season so it came as a surprise to see him start.
The decision to give him his first start since December became even stranger when Slot admitted before the match that he would only be able to play 45 minutes.
With Hugo Ekitike‘s injury adding to Liverpool’s problems, the Reds were left without a striker in a second half that needed them to score at least twice.
Arne Slot deadass start Isak and Hugo knowing they aren’t fit enough didn’t start Mo and Rio for no good reasons took off Frimpong for Gomez just to take him back off does this sound like a coach who knows what’s he’s doing ???
— ?? (@InvertedYves) April 14, 2026
“Still cant believe Salah and Rio both scored and played so well in the last game didn’t start this one. The game was lost when Isak started. I’m not against him but he is just not match fit.
“Would have been ideal to come in around 60 mins.”
– Red Indian in the This is Anfield comments.
Out of every competition possible but at least we contributed to Isak’s fitness plan.
— Lewis Bower (@LewisBower2021) April 14, 2026
Big mistake starting Isak Ekitike and Wirtz, just not enough there, light weight and not totally fit or on form. Slot errors again. Ngumoha should have started, and honestly Gakpo has been much more effective down the middle than our strikers
— Football is life (@footietalking) April 14, 2026
Could’ve been a completely different game tonight if Slot started Salah and Rio. Both in good form and both who the fans were asking for.
Instead we had Isak who did nothing for 45 minutes and Ekitike who’s now snapped his achilles.
Shite team selection, shite management. https://t.co/MaPyYP48Nx
— Reinstated Community Leader (@Vances_Burner) April 14, 2026
“After Rio’s performance vs. Fulham, he is benched for Isak, who is not match fit. And Gakpo comes on before him. Slot is lost and must go.”
– Andy Dread in the This is Anfield comments.
Goodbye Slot, has to be. 45 minutes of Isak doing nothing when he should never be starting this game post injury. Created next to nothing all game on top of that. Should've gone a long while ago ? #LFC
— CT (@CoreyMTaylor) April 14, 2026
People might point to the 2nd half performance & say we were the better team & yes we were. But the fact is, #Slot wasted 45 mins of the match by playing Isak in 1st half for absolutely no reason. And wasted 90 mins before that using a formation no one understood #SlotOutNow
— Darán ?LFCCHAMP20NS? (@DazLFC79) April 14, 2026
“Everyone on the planet knows that Isak isn’t match fit. Be lucky if he can run for more than 20 mins.
– Mark Castle on Facebook
Rolled Isak out for 45 mins, announced it to the world, then got the ball to him FIVE TIMES.
— Alexis MacQuilani (@keepingitjoshi) April 14, 2026
“We do play some nice football at times, but my god this team have no end product. And that leads to the nerves at the back. And that leads to no self belief. Vicious, vicious cycle.”
– TopKop in the This is Anfield comments.
While starting Isak didn’t make a lot of sense given his lack of match sharpness, especially given he only touched the ball five times, Slot was unfortunate to have Ekitike go off through injury, too.
However, if Ngumoha or Salah had started, Liverpool would have had better options from the bench. When the Reds were putting pressure on PSG in the second period, they had Gakpo up front who isn’t a natural predator.
With Isak in the box, the Reds may have got the crucial opening goal, but in the end it mightn’t have made a difference.
Liverpool were beaten by the better team and the rest of the season should be about getting Isak up to fitness and not rushing him back into the side, even if we are lacking other options up front.