Image Credits: Imago Images
PSG’s latest European statement has left Liverpool with more questions than answers. Arne Slot’s side did not just lose a Champions League quarter‑final first leg in Paris; they were systematically taken apart by the holders in almost every department.
Desire Doue’s deflected opener and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s ruthless second told only half the story of a night when Liverpool struggled to get out of their own half.
For a club that spent the summer loudly rebuilding for nights exactly like this, the sight of red shirts camped around their own box while PSG stroked the ball around was jarring to say the least. Memories of last season’s tough away leg in the round of 16 came back, only this time there was no late rescue from Harvey Elliott.
Instead, the Parc des Princes witnessed a reigning European champion in control and a Liverpool side hanging on, grateful that the damage stopped at two.
Unsurprisingly, across the Channel the performance has gone down badly. French newspapers and broadcasters did not hold back as they picked apart Liverpool’s display, questioning the gameplan, the mentality and even the value of the club’s expensive rebuild.
Le Monde feel that PSG were “too overwhelming” for Arne Slot’s side, and were not impressed with Hugo Ekitike’s return to the Parc Des Princes after leaving the club in 2022:
“The reigning European champions applied their usual game plan, too overwhelming to allow the Reds to exist in the match.”
“For his return to the Parc des Princes, Hugo Ekitike, former PSG striker (2022-2024) remained silent, manhandled by the Parisian defense.”
Le Figaro stated that the reigning European champions were a “class apart” from Arne Slot’s men:
“A class apart. PSG gave a football lesson to the weak Reds (2-0) on Wednesday, at the Parc des Princes, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.”
They add that the Reds came to park the bus in Paris, and that can be labelled “shameful” due to the club’s summer spend:
“The bus as therapy for the sick Reds, in a tough situation before arriving on the banks of the Seine. With more than €480 million spent on the transfer market last summer, we are entitled to be surprised by such a tactical plan. Chilly. Or even shameful, depending on the situation.”
Meanwhile, French outlet TF1 were likewise not impressed with the Liverpool showing on Wednesday night:
“From the first minutes, Luis Enrique’s players crushed the Liverpudlians who were mostly reduced to chasing the ball. What can be said about Liverpool’s performance?”
“Arne Slot’s players, who decided to deprive themselves of Mohamed Salah, finished the match with a meagre record of only three shots.”
“For his return to the Parc des Princes, Hugo Ekitike did not exist; And his teammates were just as outplayed, with only 26% possession at the end of the match. Despite a few unacademic outings, Parisian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov had a rather quiet evening.”
Liverpool now host Fulham at Anfield at 17:30 BST on Saturday before the return leg against PSG on Tuesday kicking-off at 20:00 BST.
