Liverpool boss Arne Slot delivered glowing praise of Champions League opponents Paris Saint-Germain ahead of Tuesday night’s last 16 second leg, digging out domestic rivals Arsenal and Manchester City in the process.
The Reds hold a slender 1-0 aggregate from last week’s first leg in Paris. But it was a smash and grab performance, with PSG the superior side and Alisson delivering one of the all-time great Champions League goalkeeping displays to frustrate the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“This is the most complete team we have faced so far,” Slot said, considering PSG to be a more challenging opponent than either Arsenal or Manchester City.
The Reds drew 2-2 against Arsenal in October, and will next face them in May, while they have beaten Manchester City home and away this season.
“We have faced Arsenal and Manchester City and they are not big margins but the intensity [PSG] play at combined with the quality – and they are one of the richest clubs – and a great manager it is not easy to play against,” Slot explained.
Even with an aggregate advantage, the Dutchman said he will not compromise his principles in Tuesday’s game by simply trying to protect what is a fragile lead.
“We try to play every game to try to win,” he said. “That is also what we tried to do last week, it wasn’t our intention to be so [deep] all the time. We want to play a different game, the intention is always the same…we are not going to go for a draw.”
Liverpool entered the knockout stage as one of the favourites to win the Champions League this season thanks to a near flawless league phase performance, topping the 36-team standings.
Whichever side, Liverpool or PSG, is triumphant on Tuesday will then face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in April’s quarter-finals and be heavy favourites to advance to the semis.
