Liverpool suffered heartbreak at Anfield on Tuesday night as they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, losing 4-1 on penalties to PSG in their round-of-16 second leg. Despite a strong performance, the Reds were unable to find the breakthrough, eventually succumbing to a tense shootout after a 1-0 defeat in regulation time left the tie level at 1-1 on aggregate.
Speaking after the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his players for their effort but admitted that luck may have deserted them. He highlighted how his side dominated large spells of the game, yet failed to capitalize on their chances.
“It was the best game of football I was ever involved in. Incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week,” Slot said. “We were creating chances, and then we were 1-0 down. Maybe we ran out of luck after last week.”
The Dutchman also pointed out that Liverpool strong showing in the league format phase of the tournament led to a tough knockout draw against PSG, emphasizing the challenge of facing one of Europe’s elite clubs so early in the competition.
“It feels unfair that we topped the table and then faced such a strong team as PSG. We now have a League Cup final and nine Premier League games to go,” he added.
Van Dijk Looks Ahead to League Cup Final
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk echoed Slot’s sentiments, acknowledging the team’s improved display compared to their first-leg performance in Paris. However, he admitted the reality of penalty shootouts was a tough pill to swallow.
“It was a totally different Liverpool to what we showed in Paris. But penalties … that is the reality,” Van Dijk said. “Even in the first half, we created dangerous moments. We were pretty good today. You want to go as far as possible.”
With the Champions League campaign now over, the focus shifts to the upcoming League Cup final against Newcastle. Van Dijk stressed the importance of recovery, saying: “The focus will now be on recovery. Because everyone has to be at their very best against Newcastle. I am looking forward to it.”
Liverpool will now turn their attention to domestic success, with hopes of bouncing back from this disappointment by securing silverware and maintaining their Premier League title push.
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