Liverpool will face defending champion Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League quarterfinals after defeating Galatasaray with a 4-1 aggregate score in the round of 16. This upcoming match is a rematch of last season's encounter, where PSG eliminated Liverpool at Anfield via a penalty shootout on their way to winning their first Champions League title.

Coach Arne Slot acknowledged the formidable challenge, describing Paris Saint-Germain as one of Europe's strongest teams. "When you go deep in the Champions League, you are almost certain to face PSG, because they are an extraordinary team. We experienced that last season. Playing away against PSG is very difficult," he stated after eliminating Galatasaray.

Coach Arne Slot (right) gives instructions during Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League round of 16 second leg at Anfield, Liverpool, England on 18/3/2026. Photo: AP

Slot emphasized Liverpool's unique achievement last season, being the only team to force Paris Saint-Germain into a penalty shootout in the Champions League knockout rounds. To illustrate PSG's dominance, last season saw them defeat Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the play-off round, Aston Villa 5-4 in the quarterfinals, Arsenal 3-1 in the semifinals, and Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, in addition to their penalty win against Liverpool.

Despite Paris Saint-Germain's consistent strength this season, Slot remains confident about the rematch. "Today's performance shows we can still reach the same level as for most of last season. That brings a lot of confidence," he remarked, referring to their recent dominant win.

On 18/3, Liverpool secured a convincing 4-0 victory over Galatasaray at Anfield. The home side dominated the match, maintaining 56% possession and registering 28 shots with 16 on target, compared to Galatasaray's 2 shots and one on target. Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch, and Mohamed Salah sealed the win.

The 47-year-old coach acknowledged that replicating such a high-level performance would not be simple, especially given Liverpool's exceptional performance metrics against Galatasaray. Slot also highlighted the team's ongoing need to improve consistency.

"Every match has different circumstances, opponents, and playing styles. You cannot ask the team to always replicate the exact same performance," he explained. He also pointed to Liverpool's dense fixture schedule, which allows only two days of rest before their Premier League trip to Brighton on 21/3, warning that this high frequency of matches increases the risk of injury and affects player fitness.

Mohamed Salah, after missing a penalty in the first half, made a significant impact in the second. The Egyptian star delivered a crucial cross for Hugo Ekitike to extend the lead to 2-0 before scoring a spectacular curling shot to seal the victory. This goal marked a significant milestone, making him the first African player to reach 50 Champions League goals.

"Salah overcoming the missed penalty to play explosively in the second half shows great character. He assisted Ekitike and scored a familiar goal," Slot praised his player.