Liverpool & Slot 'in survival mode' - but still just about alive

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PSG inflict another defeat on Liverpool with first-leg victory in Paris

At least Liverpool fans who witnessed the four-goal mauling at Manchester City on Saturday were able to escape after an hour.

Those who paid hundreds of pounds to travel to Paris and watch an abject Champions League performance devoid of ambition were not so lucky.

Half an hour after the referee blew the full-time whistle to confirm Paris St-Germain's 2-0 win - and Liverpool's 16th defeat of the season - the away fans were still inside the ground as French police held them back in order to clear the home supporters.

"That was our champions against their champions. Our champions were nowhere near," said former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who was inside Parc des Princes for BBC Radio 5 Live.

Stephen Warnock, the former Liverpool defender, went further after this quarter-final first-leg loss in the French capital - in which Liverpool failed to register an attempt on target in a Champions League match for the first time since 2020.

"It feels like confidence is at an all-time low," he told BBC Sport.

And yet, somehow, Liverpool are still alive in the tie.

Could another "special evening at Anfield", as Reds boss Arne Slot put it, be on the cards - or is that a step too far this time?

'Playing five at the back sent out wrong signals'

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'They were scared' - Warnock reacts to Liverpool defeat against PSG

Liverpool will still believe they can turn this tie around when the teams meet for the second leg in six days' time.

After all, the Reds have done it before when all has seemed lost in Europe.

"We've seen some memorable European comebacks at Anfield before - from 3-0 down against Barcelona in 2019 to win the second leg 4-0, for example," saidWarnock.

"But it feels like they are a million miles away from doing anything like that at the moment."

Liverpool were second best by some distance against the European champions, who enjoyed 74% possession on Wednesday, despite Slot's team setting up in survival mode.

PSG had 18 shots to Liverpool's three. Thirty-nine touches in the box to the Reds' nine. More corners, more crosses, more passes - and with better passing accuracy.

Liverpool played with five in defence yet were ripped apart time and again. Up front, their attack lacked a cutting edge.

"They are a team which is creaking, hence why they played a back five," added Robinson.

"Soon as they played a back five, it sends out the wrong signals for me.

"It is not playing to Liverpool's strengths and it is defending their weaknesses."

One French journalist at the game likened Liverpool's tactics to those of a "little team" in the French Cup coming up against PSG.

"It was like they were scared," he added.

'Better for Salah to save his energy'

On a night £125m club record signing Alexander Isak made his comeback from injury as a substitute - his first appearance of 2026 - Slot decided to drop Mohamed Salah.

The Egypt forward was not even utilised from the bench.

"I think it is better for him to save his energy for games coming up," the Liverpool manager said after the game.

Slot's side have managed just one goal in three matches - and none in the past two.

"We were in survival mode for large parts of the game but maybe also the period of the season we are in, we are in survival mode," he said.

"PSG was the better team but we didn't give up and that is why we still have a chance.

"They kept us alive by not scoring a few open chances.

"We want to create much more chances. We tried many times to get them high, but they were able to play through us when we went man-to-man.

"I think that happened in the second half as well. There were a few times with players in promising positions."

At least Isak's return gave the Reds something to cling to on an otherwise night to forget.

Yet he was unable to influence the game after his 78th-minute introduction and, according to Opta, had just three touches.

So what now for Slot?

Liverpool went into their Champions League last-16 tie against PSG last season with a 74.4% win rate under Slot after 43 games.

Since being knocked out on penalties, the Reds have won just 49.2% of their past 59 games, while their loss percentage has more than trebled.

Slot has retained the support of Liverpool's owners and has credit in the bank after last season's Premier League triumph - but that is likely to change if they do not qualify for the Champions League.

The Reds either have to win this season's competition - which seems unlikely after Wednesday's performance - or qualify through finishing in the top five in the Premier League.

They are currently fifth - one point ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea.

"Slot is not going to get sacked for losing 2-0 at PSG," said Warnock.

"They are one of the best teams in Europe. But the defeats are stacking up, and there's the danger there could be more damage next week.

"It is going to suit PSG next week because Liverpool have to go at them.

"They can't play like this and sit in at Anfield, when they need goals.

"But what does Slot do? Liverpool's system tonight screams 'you are better than us'. If he opens up, they leave themselves vulnerable and they could get battered."

Captain Virgil van Dijk accused the team of "giving up" against City last weekend, when Liverpool conceded four times in the space of 20 minutes either side of half-time.

After losing to PSG, he insisted the team would not give up on their Champions League ambitions.

"We shouldn't forget we play against the European champions of last season and you see the quality they have in the games that they played already this season," he said.

"We have to be absolutely spot on with everything we do.

"Hopefully our fans can play a big part in that as well. I've been through many special evenings at Anfield, I'm very lucky and privileged, and our fans, that's the backbone of the club and hopefully they can be there for us again."