Wayne Rooney raises huge Liverpool concern as Arne Slot's players 'lack ideas'

The Reds were eliminated from the Champions League by a ruthless PSG side at Anfield, and Rooney felt the tie was never in doubt, despite Liverpool's second-half attempts to break the deadlock

Wayne Rooney was critical of Liverpool's efforts against PSG

Wayne Rooney criticized Liverpool’s approach to the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, claiming the French champions allowed the Reds to “blow themselves out”.

Arne Slot’s side bowed out of the competition on Tuesday, losing 2-0 in the second leg of the tie, and 4-0 on aggregate. It was a chastening night at Anfield, as Liverpool pushed to no avail in the second half to find a breakthrough goal.

When Alexis Mac Allister earned a penalty midway through the second period, hope of an unlikely comeback blossomed. But when referee Maurizio Mariani reversed the decision, that brief feeling was quashed.

And when Ousmane Dembele netted the first of his two goals in the 72nd minute, the writing was on the wall for Liverpool.

The Reds’ efforts at one end left them exposed at the other, and in the final knockings, PSG created several dangerous openings.

Rooney felt the European champions toyed with Liverpool and that the outcome was never in doubt.

“Liverpool lacked a little bit of idea in the final third,” the ex-England captain said during Amazon Prime’s post-match coverage.

Wayne Rooney was critical of Liverpool's performance against PSG(Image: (Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images))

“It was all played in front of PSG. PSG showed their quality toward the end and let Liverpool try and almost blow themselves out of the leg.

“Then PSG just had to be a bit patient and make one or two passes, and they were in so many times toward the end.”

Rooney, who hails from the blue half of Merseyside, also questioned Liverpool’s fighting spirit ahead of this weekend’s first derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

“You need players who want to fight, and we’ve seen this Liverpool team all season not give as much as they can, I believe,” Rooney opined. "And I think this derby game on Sunday is coming at the wrong time for Liverpool.”

Ekitike appeared to suffer a serious injury in Liverpool's Champions League tie against PSG

Before attention turns to that clash against Everton, the inquest surrounding Liverpool’s Champions League exit will continue.

It means Slot’s second season will end without silverware, while the hunt for a top-five finish in the Premier League will intensify over the coming weeks.

The Reds have six games to secure a Champions League spot and currently sit four points clear of sixth-place Chelsea in the standings.

Liverpool also looks set to end the campaign without Hugo Ekitike, who was replaced with what appeared to be a serious injury in the first half of the PSG defeat. Reports in France have indicated he could be out for around nine months.