LIVERPOOL, UK – Liverpool head coach Arne Slot described his team’s second Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain as the “best football match” he has been involved in despite crashing from a penalty competition.
Liverpool scored the first leg of the tie 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Paris’ Harvey Elliott, but lost at Anfield after Osmane Dembele found the back of the net and tallied PSG levels.
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The French champions then won the shootout, with Giant Luigi Donnaruma saving them from both Darwin Nuñez and Curtis Jones, while Desile Dou struck a winning penalty.
“This was the best football game I’ve ever been involved in,” Slot told reporters after the match. “We don’t have a history that Liverpool has as managers, but they were two teams on an incredible level, and they were incredible strength in the first 25 minutes.
“I also remember the first 25 innings with Manchester City at home and the first 25 with Real Madrid, which was incredible and what I showed in the first 25.
“For over 90 minutes, we don’t think we deserve to lose this football game. It might be worth it to spend more than 180 minutes of extra time.
Arne Slot comforted Darwin Nunez after the Uruguiron was one of Liverpool’s two players and failed to score in a shootout. Lobby Jay Barratt – Ama/Getty Images
Liverpool took the lead in the Champions League phase, winning seven of eight games, losing just once in the Premier League this season to clear 15 points at the top of the table.
Slot tried to remain positive in his first season at Anfield.
“Of course it’s a shock, and it probably isn’t the moment to convey [the players] Now, last season we weren’t involved in the Champions League. So, if you have to go out, go out the way you did against one of the best teams in Europe and fight such a fight.
“For us, it’s very unlucky, so if you’re No. 1 [league phase] After that we face PSG, one of Europe’s best teams, and that’s our format. We have to accept that and will be back strongly next season. ”
Liverpool will have to be reorganized ahead of this weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United. However, Slots may not have some key players due to their trip to Wembley, with both Trent Alexander Arnold and Ibrahima Konate being kicked out Tuesday night.
“I have to ask, but I was saying that Ebou was more tired than injured,” Slot said. “Along with Trent, he had to leave. That’s never a good sign and it didn’t look very good from what I heard from people who saw the images, so I’d be surprised if he’s available on Sunday.
“The good thing is that we play the finals on Sunday, so mentally it’s the best thing you can ask for, because that’s because you play football to play in the finals.”
