Summary:
- Liverpool lost 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw, failing to convert early dominance into goals.
- Arne Slot called it “the best game of football I was ever involved in,” but admitted luck was not on their side.
- With Europe out of the picture, Liverpool will now focus on the Carabao Cup final and the Premier League title race.
Liverpool’s journey came to an end in dramatic fashion in the Champions League as they fell to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties (4-1) after a 1-0 defeat at Anfield, which left the tie level at 1-1 on aggregate.
Arne Slot: “The Best Game of Football I Was Ever Involved In”
Despite the heartbreaking loss, head coach Arne Slot called it “the best game of football I was ever involved in” while praising his team’s performance compared to their first-leg battles in Paris.
Liverpool had escaped with a 1-0 win in the French capital thanks to a late Harvey Elliott goal, but this time, fortune was not on their side.
PSG struck early at Anfield through Ousmane Dembélé, leaving Liverpool chasing the game. Slot acknowledged the reversal of fortunes, stating,
Probably it was almost the opposite, maybe we ran out of luck because the margins were so small tonight.
The Premier League leaders dominated the opening 25 minutes, creating multiple chances, but their inability to convert proved costly.
“We played the perfect game, except for scoring goals”, Slot remarked, drawing parallels to PSG’s first-leg performance. Despite their best efforts, the match went to penalties, where Liverpool faltered.
“It Feels Unfair to Go Out at This Round Already”
Reflecting on the loss, Slot admitted the elimination felt harsh, given the team’s efforts and league position.
It feels unfair to go out at this round already. Everybody around the world enjoyed watching this game, and the margins are small. If you want to win it, you have to have some luck. We had it last week, I don’t think we had it today.
With their European campaign over, Liverpool must now turn their focus to domestic competitions.
Now it’s clear what we have to do for the rest of the season – one league cup final and nine Premier League games to go.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk echoed Slot’s sentiments, urging his teammates to move forward and prepare for their upcoming Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.
I said to the guys, you can be disappointed because we are out of the competition, chin up and get ready for the next challenge
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher praised PSG’s performance, admitting, “The best team won”.
While Liverpool showed glimpses of dominance early on, Carragher noted that PSG controlled extra time. “Then, it’s a lottery, but PSG deserved to go through. Liverpool ran out of steam”.
Liverpool will now look to bounce back at Wembley as they chase their first trophy of the season. Can Liverpool put their pain behind them or will Newcastle, get the best odds with Best Non UK Betting Sites