What Arne Slot obtained improper as Liverpool crash out of Europe with penalty heartbreak
Liverpool have crashed out of the Champions League on spot-kicks as Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones saw their penalties saved
It was another famous European night on Merseyside.
However, it was all the wrong reasons for Arne Slot – as he lost his first knock-out tie in European football at the helm of the Liverpool. There would be no repeat of last week’s smash and grab as Ousmane Dembele netted early doors.
The Reds dug deep, but they couldn’t quite fashion the chance that would unlock the PSG defence.
And Liverpool suffered European heartbreak from the spot as Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones’ penalties were saved.
The problem, however, now for Liverpool is they 120 minutes of football in their legs before their Carabao Cup final with Newcastle. And with that in mind, Daily Star Sport looks at what Arne Slot got right and wrong on Tuesday.
Failing to use Anfield’s atmosphere
It was the PSG fans that filled the cold night’s air on Merseyside.
Anfield and its famous atmosphere was silenced early doors thanks to Ousmane Dembele’s early goal and it never really got back going. “Tonight, though, PSG will not just play against Liverpool, they will also play against Anfield and against our fans,” Slot had said.
Liverpool so often thrive on the chaos of games, using the crowd to bay their opposition into a mistake – it was just missing for large chunks on Tuesday evening.
Keeping Diogo Jota on the pitch
Liverpool’s best period came in the second half – and most of that came from the left-wing with Luis Diaz having a lot of joy attacking down the flank.
However, it became almost too predictable with Diogo Jota offering next to nothing on the other flank and down the centre.
“Nunez should have came on way sooner man, Jota has been so poor these past few games,” one fan fumed. While a second said: “I know people say not to blame individual players but I swear if we go out here Jota should be absolutely mortified!”
Too many offsides
It was lazy, at times, from Liverpool’s attacking line.
Dominik Szoboszlai, who thought he should have had a penalty on the stroke of half-time, turned the ball into the back of the net early in the second half. However, it was quickly ruled out after the linesman spotted Jota offside.
Jarell Quansah also saw his effort hit the inside of the post before being flagged as offside.
Not giving up
For all of the Reds’ short comings on Tuesday evening: their lack of cutting edge, the final pass missing and countless examples of miscommunication – they didn’t pack it up.
Why would they? They were still level on aggregate after all.
But conceding an early goal after being dominated in the first leg can do funny things to both teams. PSG brimmed with confidence but Liverpool rallied – and they had most of the attacking chances for the second half.
