Arne Slot makes 'quite obvious' claim before PSG as Liverpool boss responds to Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been speaking ahead of taking on PSG in the Champions League, with the Reds boss insistent that he has a plan to turn the tide after a bad season

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted something needs to change for his team sooner rather than later — but he insists he has a plan to turn things around at Anfield.

Fans left the Etihad Stadium early on Saturday and Virgil van Dijk claimed that Liverpool had "given up" in the second half. But Slot and Florian Wirtz denied that was the case ahead of the European clash with PSG, with the Dutch boss suggesting the Reds can take inspiration from the past to get back on track again.

"I cannot debate that [performances have been inconsistent]," Slot said. "That is completely true. The performances have been inconsistent all season.

"I think the answer lies in the history of Liverpool. This club has always shown in tough moments, they stand up again. We've had a lot of tough moments and stood up a few times.

"This club has shown many times that we can do special things in difficult circumstances. Especially if we can bring this game to Anfield — as we saw last season, and a recent example like the Galatasaray game — we played the best game of the season at home.

"The answer is already in the history of Liverpool but it's easier said than done because we've shown far too many times this season that we have phases in games, usually 5-10 but 20 at Etihad, with four goals conceded.

"So like I said: easier said than done. But this group has shown many times it can come back after setbacks.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images)

"Apart from the quality my team has — by the way, PSG has a bit of quality as well — but my team has shown in big games, with the exception of twice at the Eithad, that we are able to compete with the best teams in Europe.

"It is up to us to show the team that we have been against Real Madrid and these games."

Van Dijk had worryingly stated that Liverpool gave up too easily after conceding quick-fire goals to Erling Haaland. But while the Reds were a mess at the back at the weekend, Slot says he is working to fix it.

"Of course, we talk to the players in meetings but also individually," Slot said. "But it makes sense and is completely normal the feeling Virgil shared after the game.

"That is the feeling that every player had and not only every player, but every staff member and every fan or supporter of Liverpool as well. Everyone involved in Liverpool Football Club was disappointed after that result.

"That takes one or two days before you can look forward or ahead to the next game. Before you do that, you first address what you have to improve.

"That is quite obvious. If you only look at those 20 minutes, you can see a lot of things we can improve.

"We cannot compare PSG with Man City completely because when we had controlled ball possession, that also had something to do with City not being so aggressive towards us.

"PSG has shown in the last seasons when Luis Enrique was here that they don't give you any second of time to have the ball comfortable at your feet. It is always press, press, press, every second of the game.

"The good thing is during this year, we have become quite experienced in terms of negativity because of all the setbacks. This was a big one on Saturday, because it was a quarter-final, it was a big loss against our rivals.

"But for me, it felt just as bad when were were 3-2 up at at Leeds or 2-2 with Fulham."