Liverpool lost 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. This performance raised concerns among fans and analysts.
Goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave the French team a comfortable win, leaving Liverpool with a tough challenge in the return leg.
Salah Left Unused in Surprising Tactical Call
A major talking point was head coach Arne Slot's decision to keep Mohamed Salah on the bench for the entire match.
Slot chose a more defensive setup, using a back five with Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez as wing-backs. This strategy seemed aimed at containing PSG’s attacking threats rather than focusing on scoring.
Slot: “It Was About Surviving, Not Scoring”
After the match, Slot explained that the game's situation shaped his choice not to bring on Salah.
He noted that in the last stages, Liverpool focused on limiting damage rather than trying to score. The team spent around 20 to 25 minutes mainly defending.
Slot suggested that bringing in Salah under those conditions would have forced him to take on significant defensive responsibilities. It made more sense to save his energy for upcoming matches.
Salah Praised for Professionalism
Even though he did not play, Salah earned praise for his attitude after the final whistle.
The Egyptian forward was seen doing extra running drills on the pitch, a gesture that did not go unnoticed. Former England international Stuart Pearce commended Salah’s professionalism, pointing out that players in similar situations might react negatively.
Instead, Salah’s commitment and work ethic showed a strong professional attitude, even in disappointment.
