Arne Slot makes honest Liverpool admission and Anfield claim before PSG rematch

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Arne Slot admitted that Liverpool was lucky to come away from PSG with only a 2-0 defeat, with his back five system failing to stop Luis Enrique's men from creating lots of chances

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot applauds the fans after a 2-0 defeat to PSG in the Champions League.(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admitted that his side is fortunate to still be in its Champions League quarter-final tie against PSG, only losing by two goals on another difficult outing.

Fresh from losing 4-0 to Manchester City, a struggling Liverpool team set up with a back five at the Parc des Princes, and despite riding its luck in some big moments, was comfortably beaten. PSG will take a 2-0 advantage to Anfield next Tuesday.

"If you reflect on the whole game, they had more chances than they scored," Slot admitted on TNT Sports at the final whistle. "After the deflected shot went in, they had lots of chances to score.

"It is good for us that we are still in the tie and we can bring them to Anfield. We all know how much of a difference Anfield can make."

Giorgi Mamardashvili is the main reason that Liverpool remains in contention to progress. And Slot picked out his goalkeeper for praise after he made a string of good saves.

"Very crucial," Slot said. "I watched the game yesterday between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, and I saw Manuel Neuer being very, very, very important for Bayern Munich, making a lot of good saves.

Liverpool head Arne Slot gestures during his side's 2-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)

"That is what Giorgi had to do for us today, but you need performances like that against a team like PSG. You need a hard-working team that tries to do everything to prevent them from scoring.

"That is what we saw, but it was difficult. The moment we needed Giorgi, he was there for us. Unfortunately the first one was deflected, but he played a very good game today.

"We want to create much more but there was not a lot to create for us. They were just having the ball a lot with incredible tempo and pace all over the place.

"We tried many times to press them high and a few times that was working, but a lot of times, also they were able to play through us. When we went man-to-man, they played the ball in behind us.

"I think Hugo Ekitike had a few times when he was one-on-one with Marquinhos but that is also their quality. They keep going and Hugo is probably a bit tired at the moment when he has to show up."

Virgil van Dijk also felt that it was a difficult night for Liverpool, even though the Reds avoided the embarrassment that they suffered against Manchester City last time out.

"Tough work," he said on TNT Sports. "Always expected. I think we defended with a lot of bodies around the box. Unfortunately, the first goal is a deflection. We get some small moments on the break where we could have done better."