Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, with Mohamed Salah left on the bench as Arne Slot struggles to turn the tide at Anfield
Liverpool are licking their wounds after being thoroughly outplayed by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday evening. The Reds were comprehensively beaten 2-0 at the Parc des Princes in the opening leg clash.
Strikes from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia handed dominant PSG a richly deserved victory as Arne Slot’s team delivered yet another lacklustre display. The aftermath has been brutal, with the Reds’ blunt showing widely condemned.
Another puzzling aspect of the evening was the sight of club legend Mohamed Salah remaining unused on the substitutes’ bench throughout. Today’s developments see the Egyptian ace’s dedication highlighted while a Liverpool player has placed the remedy to the squad’s present struggles firmly at Slot’s door. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at the latest Liverpool news
Gerrard praises Salah
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Steven Gerrard has lauded Mohamed Salah’s dedication, acknowledging the Liverpool forward will have been hugely frustrated having watched from the sidelines in the French capital. On an evening where Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target, the club’s third-highest goalscorer of all time was notably absent from the on-field action.
The 33-year-old recently confirmed his departure at the campaign’s end and criticised his manager back in December, having grown annoyed at being omitted from the team. Former midfielder Gerrard suggested Salah’s intense cool-down following the PSG fixture showed how he has his sights set on a Premier League encounter with Fulham this weekend, underlining his top-class commitment.
Asked on TNT Sports how he would feel in the same circumstances, the ex-Reds skipper said: “Frustrated, because I think he’ll be sitting there thinking, ‘I back myself to influence this game and improve proceedings.’
“Certainly from a going forward point of view. So I think he’ll be a little bit sad and frustrated but credit to him, he’s just stayed behind there and done extra running.
“Because if there wasn’t a mid-week game, Wednesday would probably be your big session so in his mind he’s already got his mind on Fulham and he’s doing extra work, which shows the pro and the mentality that you’re dealing with.”
Konate issues Slot plea
Liverpool centre-back Konate’s post-match comments seemed to subtly put the onus on Slot to resolve the season-long problem that’s been the team’s woeful form. The French star acknowledged the clash against PSG was “tough” with the defender struggling in a revamped back three.
Speaking following the defeat in Paris, Konate said: “What do I think of the result tonight? For sure I’m not happy. I know we have another game at Anfield, it’s our home, anything can happen there and we have to make sure we are ready for the game on Saturday.
“After we’re going to think more about that game against PSG. I think PSG, like last season, [are] one of the best teams in the world. They show it again today.
“It was tough for us to find a solution to find the target but this is the work of the manager now to see what we can improve, what we can change for the game at home and we will see.”
The return leg between Liverpool and PSG is scheduled for next Tuesday, 14 April, with the Reds requiring a classic Anfield comeback if they harbour any ambitions of progressing to the semi-finals.
Andy Robertson exit
Andy Robertson confirmed on Thursday evening what looked inevitable as he announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, following Salah out of the Anfield exit door.
The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and will leave as a free agent after nine years at Liverpool. Robertson said: “I think I feel better now that it’s out in the open.
“The hardest bit [in] the last, certainly, couple of weeks and months is that some people that are close to me in the training ground don’t know, and more importantly, the fans.
“The closer it gets, the more and more questions you start to get. I’ve always said that the fans are the most important people at this club, and I just think now is the time to tell them what’s going on and that obviously this will be my last year.
“I just think it’s better being out in the open, that now I can fully focus on the team from now until the end of the season. I think it’s important that I do that; I’ve always done that.
“But the time to have the emotional farewell and tell the fans and the people connected to this club what they mean to me, that will come closer to the end.
“I don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet. It’s just to try to get it out there so I can now be open and honest with everyone.”