Liverpool faces a challenging task to advance to the Champions League semi-finals after losing the first leg 0-2 to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia put the French champions in a strong position. Ahead of the return fixture at Anfield, coach Arne Slot expressed confidence that a comeback is not an impossible task, but emphasized the necessity of a "very special" effort.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference on 13/4, Slot acknowledged the scoreline. "The first thing is to reiterate that the score is 0-2. The feeling of the match might have been different, as everyone saw, but the final result remains 0-2," Slot stated. He highlighted Liverpool's ability to perform in crucial matches this season, adding, "We have shown many times in big games this season that the team can play very well. While we sometimes display a different side, in most matches, especially major clashes, the team has played very well."

The Dutch coach also pointed to Liverpool's impressive home record, noting that in 46 of his 49 matches at Anfield, the team scored two or more goals. "Not all those matches were against PSG, I understand that. But the Premier League and Champions League opponents we hosted were also very strong," Slot remarked, underscoring Anfield's formidable atmosphere.

Coach Arne Slot at the press conference before Liverpool's match against PSG in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on 13/4. Photo: PA Wire

The 47-year-old coach affirmed his belief in a potential upset, albeit with extremely high professional demands. "There is belief that we can do something special, but to achieve it, we must be very, very special, because the opponent is the European champion. That makes the task harder, but not impossible," he stressed.

When questioned about his tactical approach against the Ligue 1 leaders, Slot admitted Liverpool would have to take risks. He clarified that the overall strategy would not differ significantly from the first leg. "It may be hard to believe, but the approach for this match is not much different from when we played in Paris. Those who understand me know I never send a team out and ask them to play deep defense for 90 minutes," Slot explained.

Slot acknowledged that Liverpool's high press in the first leg sometimes exposed dangerous spaces. Despite this, he confirmed the team would continue with an aggressive, risk-taking style. "Tomorrow, we will still take risks, because that is what is needed. To get the ball from them, you have to press, and we have seen how difficult that is against these players," he said.

Liverpool's possession in the first leg was only 24%, a statistic Slot aims to improve. He analyzed, "First, we must have more possession. When we have the ball, creating attacking threats will be more possible. We must find the perfect balance between attack and control. To attack, you need the ball, and you have to do many things right before the attacking players can create chances."

Anfield has been the stage for numerous famous Champions League comebacks by Liverpool. Most notably, the team secured a 4-0 victory against Barcelona in the 2019 semi-final second leg, overturning a 0-3 first-leg deficit. Older fans also recall the legendary night against St Etienne in the 1977 European Cup, when Liverpool won 3-1 in the quarter-final second leg to reverse a 0-1 away loss.

Captain Virgil van Dijk, who participated in the comeback against Barcelona, underscored the crucial role of the home crowd. "The fans can be the most important factor, along with our performance," he stated. "I am lucky to have experienced nights where the connection between the crowd and the team is incredible."

Meanwhile, PSG coach Luis Enrique cautioned his team against complacency despite their significant advantage. "You must be very careful, there are always pitfalls and that could be a trap," he warned. "Everyone says we won easily in the first leg and played better than the opponent. That may be true, but football changes very quickly."

The Spanish coach emphasized that PSG needs to pay attention to every detail and prepare for all scenarios, including conceding a goal in the first half. He also denied that PSG would play defensively to protect their lead in the second leg. "We know how difficult it is to play at Anfield, but that is also a motivation. We want to play our way, overcome them and win," Enrique asserted.

Hong Duy (according to Sky Sports, Daily Mail)