Arne Slot agrees with Dominik Szoboszlai as PSG promised 'different' Liverpool

The Reds host PSG in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final, and Liverpool's hopes of overturning the two-goal deficit could depend on the Anfield crowd

Arne Slot and Dominik Szoboszlai insisted the Anfield atmosphere will play a major role in the Champions League quarter-final tie against PSG

Arne Slot and Dominik Szoboszlai both claimed Anfield’s atmosphere could play a pivotal role in shaping Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Parisians head to Anfield with a two-goal lead from the first leg last week and most expect the European champions to qualify. But Luis Enrique repeatedly warned of the “trap” of PSG approaching the game overconfident, while the atmosphere created by the Liverpool crowd was put to all four speakers in Monday’s press conference.

Slot insisted that Liverpool can improve on last week’s dismal showing in Paris, where the Reds were fortunate to come away with just a 2-0 defeat.

Speaking about Anfield’s influence, Slot said: “Just as important as our performance, so I think we have to be much better than we were last week. Their players are experienced players; they have experienced Anfield a year ago, so they think that they know what's coming up.

“So, I can only hope that our fans can find an extra gear compared to last season, which I'd argue if it's possible because the atmosphere last season was unbelievable.

“But I think our fans are up for it to make it even louder, which is also needed because then their players get what they don't expect.

“First of all, a better performance from us, which I do think they would expect, by the way – it's hardly possible to play at the same level again. And our fans, I think I can trust them [to be] even louder than last season.”

Slot insisted Liverpool can improve from last week's first leg in Paris(Image: Getty Images)

Asked where the belief of an improved performance comes from, given the woeful showing last week, Slot replied: “You want one example, two 10 or 200?

“The first 35 minutes at the Etihad, did you expect us to be 4-0 down 20 minutes later in the same game? I watched Chelsea against City. Did you expect 20 minutes after half-time that City would be three goals up?

“Would you expect after losing at Galatasaray 1-0, we could have then scored eight or nine against Galatasaray at home [a few months later]? So, the amount of times that we have shown that we can be much better than we were at Paris Saint-Germain, that is clear.

Szoboszlai also spoke to the media ahead of the Champions League quarter-final against PSG

“Even Saturday [against Fulham] showed how important a goal is. At the moment we scored a goal, the first 20 minutes we were by far the better team on the pitch and then for 10 minutes it was getting a bit more equal.

“We scored the goal and then minutes later we get the second. That is what football is about. A goal can change the momentum, in a negative way for us at the Etihad, and then in a positive way for us on Saturday at Anfield.

As for Szoboszlai, he said: “Anfield is going to make a big impact tomorrow. We saw it many times during this season, last season and in the past.

“It is going to be not only about 11 players or the subs who come in, it is going to be the whole stadium and we know how it feels to be playing for Liverpool in front of these fans. We don’t need any more motivation.”