Liverpool manager Arne Slot has called for a much stronger performance as his team prepares to face Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie. Despite securing a 1-0 win in the first leg, Liverpool were largely outplayed by PSG, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker making nine crucial saves to keep them ahead.
Alisson described his performance as the best of his career, but Slot insists his team cannot afford to rely on heroics again. “We need to step up in intensity,” he said. “If we play like we did against Southampton, we have no chance of progressing.”
Concerns Over Recent Performance
Liverpool struggled in their 3-1 win against bottom-placed Southampton over the weekend. Slot was so unhappy with the first half that he made three substitutions at halftime. Mohamed Salah’s two penalties and a Darwin Núñez goal helped secure the victory, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to 15 points.
Slot, who is aiming for a treble in his first season, acknowledged that the performance was not up to standard. “I hope we play better in the next two finals than we did in this one,” he added, referring to the PSG clash and the upcoming League Cup final against Newcastle.
Salah on Slot’s Halftime Outburst
Salah admitted Slot was furious at halftime, saying, “The manager really went for us, and sometimes, that’s what we need.”
Despite some struggles, Slot has maintained Liverpool’s momentum in his first nine months as manager. Harvey Elliott scored the winner in Paris, while Núñez, who had been criticized for recent performances, played a key role in Liverpool’s comeback against Southampton.
Slot remains confident but warns that Liverpool must avoid the mistakes they made in Paris if they want to reach the quarter-finals.
