Liverpool’s Coach Calls PSG Match the Best Despite Penalty Loss
Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, praised his team for their spirited performance in the Champions League match against Paris St-Germain (PSG), despite a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss on Tuesday.
He described the match as “the best game of football I’ve been involved in.” Even as the defeat meant Liverpool’s exit from the tournament.
The evening began on a hopeful note for Liverpool, who had lost the first leg 1-0 in Paris. Ousmane Dembele leveled the aggregate score with a goal in the 12th minute at Anfield. The team created numerous chances but could not find the back of the net again. This led the match into extra time.
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In the penalty shootout, PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made crucial saves from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones, while Desire Doue scored the decisive penalty, sealing a 4-1 success for PSG.
Slot reflected on the match’s outcome, stating, “Maybe we ran out of luck because the margins were so small.” He emphasized that Liverpool significantly improved their performance compared to the previous week.
With the Champions League behind them, Liverpool now shifts focus to domestic competitions. They hold a commanding 15-point lead in the Premier League and are preparing to face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley this Sunday.
Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the challenges posed by PSG but noted the team’s growth.
Scotland’s left-back, Andy Robertson, stressed the need for a quick recovery, stating, “It wasn’t meant to be, and we need to dust ourselves down.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s status for the final is uncertain due to a knee injury.
Slot expressed concern, saying it “didn’t look very good.” England manager Thomas Tuchel will announce his World Cup qualifiers squad on Friday, where Alexander-Arnold was expected to feature.
-BBC
