Liverpool’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening has ignited fierce debate over Arne Slot’s tactical decisions, with prominent pundits branding the Dutchman’s approach “shameful” and even a “sackable offence”.
The Reds arrived at the Parc des Princes for what was widely regarded as their biggest game of the season, yet produced a toothless performance that left them with a mountain to climb in next week’s return at Anfield. PSG dominated proceedings, and Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target — the first time they have done so in a Champions League fixture since November 2020.
Slot opted for a radical change in formation, deploying a back three for the first time in a Champions League or Premier League match since a 5-1 win over Brighton in December 2017. With Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez operating as wing-backs, the system featured three centre-backs and left star forward Mohamed Salah on the bench.
The defeat also marked the third time this season that Liverpool have lost three consecutive matches across all competitions, further heightening scrutiny on the manager’s bold gamble.
Pundits unleash scathing criticism
On talkSPORT’s Sports Bar, Jason Cundy and Jamie O’Hara delivered blistering assessments of Slot’s tactics.
Cundy did not hold back: “That was shameful, shameful football. Waiting to get beaten, that was absolutely pathetic. If I were a Liverpool fan watching that — they are European royalty. That was an absolute disgrace. I cannot believe what I’ve seen… if I was a Liverpool fan, I’d be embarrassed of that.”
He added that while Liverpool remain alive in the tie, they were fortunate to escape with only a two-goal deficit: “They are a brilliant side, but at least we put in some sort of fight in that first game. That was shameful… And somehow, Liverpool have got out. They’re still alive. They should be dead and buried, and they’re not. If I were Luis Enrique, I’d be furious. Slot’s lucky. If I’m Slot, I’m going home thinking, ‘wow, how have we got out of that one?’”
O’Hara was equally damning, describing the decision to play five at the back as a “sackable offence”.
“It’s embarrassing. You turn up and play five at the back, trying to nick a draw against PSG. You go 1-0 down. You go, ‘You know what, half-time, let’s go back. Let’s go after these. Let’s try and have a go…’ he’s just waiting to get beat.”
The pundits agreed that the performance lacked the fighting spirit expected from a club with Liverpool’s illustrious European pedigree.
Slot explains brutal Salah snub
Slot’s decision to omit Mohamed Salah from the starting XI — and leave him unused throughout the match — has also drawn significant attention. The Egyptian King, who has been in sensational form, was left on the bench as the manager prioritised a defensive setup.
When asked about the snub, Slot offered a pragmatic, if controversial, explanation focused on energy conservation:
“I think in the last part of the game, it was more about surviving for us than there was ever a chance that we could score. Yeah, you never know, because last season we scored five minutes before the end, Harvey Elliott, when I took Mo off, but I think this was 20-25 minutes where we were only defending.
“And Mo has so much quality, but for Mo to be 20, 25 minutes defending inside his own box, I think it’s better for him to save his energy for a lot of games that are coming up in the upcoming weeks.”
Despite not featuring, Salah was spotted putting in extra running work on the pitch at full-time, earning praise from former England defender Stuart Pearce, who was commentating for talkSPORT.
“I’m also watching down here Mo Salah doing his running as well,” Pearce noted. “He’s at the front of the running and sometimes this gets unnoticed. People say oh his attitude stunk when he come off. He done this, he done that.
“If ever there’s a time where a player’s attitude is going to stink, it’s Mo Salah with six or seven games to go on his Liverpool career not being brought on when they need a goal. He’s got every opportunity for his attitude to stink and he’s out there doing the running with the team — the box to box work that they do after games. So you’ve got to commend him for that. I know it’s his job. I understand that.”
A night of damage limitation
Slot later admitted Liverpool were “lucky” to only lose 2-0, acknowledging the gulf in quality and execution on the night. The switch to a back five was intended to contain PSG’s attacking threats, but it left the Reds largely reactive and unable to create meaningful chances.
While the tie is not yet over — with the second leg at Anfield offering a chance for redemption — the manner of the defeat has raised serious questions about Slot’s tactical flexibility and decision-making under pressure.
For a club that prides itself on European pedigree, this performance will be remembered as one of the more passive and uninspiring in recent memory. Liverpool fans will now look to the return fixture with a mixture of hope and heightened expectation for a far more assertive display.
Whether Slot’s conservative approach pays off in the long run remains to be seen, but the immediate fallout has left the manager facing some of the strongest criticism of his tenure so far.