Slot transfer demand now obvious
Diogo Jota was taken aback when told ahead of the game he hadn’t scored in the Champions League for exactly four years. But while the numbers weren’t quite right, that his last goal in the competition was way back in November 2021 was still a surprise.
And it shone a light on what has been a difficult current campaign for the Portuguese striker, with injury and a loss of form meaning he hadn't troubled the scoresheet for almost two months going into this game.
As in France, Jota was given the nod here to start. And while there was the usual hard pressing and a header over from a corner after 18 minutes, it was an outing of ever-decreasing returns from the forward, who too often frustratingly ran into Paris Saint-Germain defenders or made the wrong choice in possession.
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Similar to last week, Darwin Nunez replaced Jota in the second half and instantly began to make a positive impression. It didn’t take long, though, for the Uruguayan to fade out of view until his costly penalty miss in the shoot-out.
There haven’t been many obvious shortcomings in the Liverpool squad this season, but the lack of a consistent, effective number nine in Slot’s system has been a glaring exception. Champions League elimination has accelerated the need for a new striker this summer.
Trent’s unhappy farewell
The home crowd rising to their feet in applause as he slowly made his way round the Anfield turf, it should have been an image Trent Alexander-Arnold would have warmly embraced.
Instead, it signalled not only the end of his evening but also, as things stand, his time as a Liverpool player in European competition.
A hush descended upon Anfield when it became clear the injury sustained when falling awkwardly by the touchline during the final 20 minutes of normal time wasn’t one that could simply be run off.
It was particularly untimely given, as in France the previous week, Alexander-Arnold had been one of Liverpool’s best performers, persistent in defence and such a danger with his range of passing and willingness to shoot.
There will now be an anxious wait to discover for how long Alexander-Arnold will be sidelined, although he will almost certainly miss the League Cup final for the second successive year.
And with Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley also currently out, Slot is running out of right-back options.
A bonus, then, came in the form of Jarell Quansah’s cameo, who hit the inside of the post with a header and barely put a foot wrong. Liverpool are now going to need him.
Liverpool back on stage
The first lesson, then, has been emphatically learned from the revamped Champions League: finishing top of the table has no guaranteed advantages.
Liverpool’s reward from being the dominant side in the opening round was to come up against the best team in Europe at present.
That, of course, can happen in an open draw. But it’s unlikely UEFA would have wanted a game PSG boss Luis Enrique regarded as a potential final in the round of 16. Finishing in the top eight, and avoiding the play-off stage, should be the only real aim from now on.
Enrique, with good grace, claimed afterwards it was a tie from which either side could progress. But his PSG side are clearly a little further down the line than Slot’s Liverpool.
Beyond doubt, though, is the Reds deserved to be back on this stage and, with a 15-point lead at the Premier League summit, will surely return to the competition next season.
And with their reputation hugely enhanced, Liverpool will now be a very attractive proposition to ambitious players this summer.
