Arne Slot brought Mohamed Salah on during the first half. (Image: Getty)
Liverpool’s Champions League dream lies in ruins and with it, any faint hope of silverware this season has been brutally snuffed out. The warning signs were there from the first leg. Arne Slot’s side were fortunate to escape just 2-0 down, and with another 2-0 defeat at Anfield, Paris Saint-Germain marched on to the semi-finals with authority.
And yet, as kick-off loomed on Merseyside, belief still flickered. Anfield was alive, crackling with the kind of energy that has so often inspired the impossible. But this time, the comeback never truly felt within reach, and Slot only has himself to blame.
In a staggering act of naivety, the Dutchman handed PSG a crucial advantage before a ball was even kicked.
Speaking openly about his team selection, Slot revealed that Alexander Isak would only be fit for 45 minutes despite starting the match, effectively broadcasting his tactical plan to the world. With Mohamed Salah left on the bench, Slot’s gamble raised eyebrows. His explanation? Goals were needed, and Isak, alongside Hugo Ekitike, offered a physical threat.
But in doing so, he gave Luis Enrique exactly what he needed. Information.
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PSG knew they simply had to weather 45 minutes before Liverpool would be forced into a reshuffle. At this level, such generosity is unforgivable.
And when Ekitike was stretchered off after just 32 minutes, the plan unravelled spectacularly. Salah was thrust into action and within seconds, he delivered, sparking Liverpool’s most dangerous move of the night. Virgil van Dijk came agonisingly close, denied by Matvei Safonov and Marquinhos.
It begged the obvious question: why was Salah not trusted from the start?
This is a player built for the grandest stages. Even in a season below his extraordinary standards, leaving him out on a night like this borders on the absurd.
Alexander Isak could only play 45 minutes against PSG. (Image: Getty)
Slot’s baffling decisions did not end there.
Hooking Joe Gomez after just 22 minutes on the pitch, despite no visible injury, risked more than just tactical confusion. The defender’s furious reaction told its own story. At a time when calm leadership was needed, Slot instead invited unrest.
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According to reports, Slot privately told those close to him that he has been prioritising the Champions League since January.
If true, that only makes this collapse all the more damning. Three months of focus, only to exit with a whimper.
Couple that with a dismal Premier League title defence, and the conclusion feels inevitable. The writing is no longer just on the wall; it is etched in bold.
Slot’s first year promised so much. But what has followed is nothing short of a collapse.
And now, the spotlight turns to FSG. A ruthless decision may already be looming.