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What went wrong for Liverpool in Champions League? And what’s next for Arne Slot’s side?

Slot’s men were caught off-guard.

In the world of elite football, few seasons are defined solely by wins and losses. For Liverpool and Arne Slot, this has never been more apparent.

As the team are firmly entrenched in a Premier League title race, it’s hard not to look back on their European campaign with a sense of frustration and missed opportunities.

A deeper look reveals a team that has been unlucky, underfunded, and still learning under a new manager.

The Champions League Debacle: An Unfortunate Outcome

Liverpool’s most recent Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain served as a perfect microcosm of their season – bright moments overshadowed by crucial mistakes.

Despite having a squad with the best attacker (Mo Salah) and the best defender (Virgil van Dijk), ultimately, Liverpool were beaten out in a penalty shootout.

After the first-leg 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes, Slot was insistent that his side was not poor, only that PSG were exceptional on the night.

See complete match stats on Tribuna.com

One look at the infographic above will tell you why Slot is not wrong.

PSG appeared to approach this game with more hunger and seemed almost vengeful to get the win.

Despite the French giants seeming comfortable dominating the team in the first leg, Slot opted to field the exact same starting XI.

Diogo Jota, who started through the center, demonstrated his usual commitment but faded in his pressing duties. Still, he showed moments of quality in linking Liverpool’s attacks.

Slot’s faith in his starting line-up was vindicated by an improved performance, as Liverpool showed far more attacking intent than in the first leg.

With just 10 minutes gone, they had already surpassed their total shot count from the first leg in Paris, a testament to their positive approach in this high-stakes game.

Slot’s decision to stick with the same line-up seemed justified – at least until the final moments. However, in the fine margins of knockout football, it wasn’t enough. At times, Liverpool’s attacking stars seemed to lack that final touch.

A game of fine margins

The first turning point came as early as the 12th minute, when Ousmane Dembele silenced the Anfield crowd with a goal against the run of play.

It was a goal that not only gave PSG the lead but also represented the earliest goal Liverpool had conceded at home in the Champions League since 2017, setting the stage for a nervy and tumultuous night.

To make matters worse, within the opening minutes, Mohamed Salah had a shot blocked off the line by Nuno Mendes. A near-certain goal, but PSG’s defense stood resolute, and the lack of clinical finishing from Liverpool would haunt them later.

That moment set the tone for the rest of the match: plenty of attacking intent but an inability to convert pressure into decisive outcomes.

As the game wore on, Liverpool pushed for an equaliser, and Dominik Szoboszlai thought he had it early in the second half. But VAR came into play, disallowing his strike for an offside infringement in the build-up.

It was a cruel blow, as Liverpool were beginning to find their rhythm, but fate seemed to have other ideas.

One of the more poignant moments came late in the match, when Alexis Mac Allister found himself on the wrong side of a booking for a tactical foul on Ousmane Dembele.

Mac Allister’s yellow card meant he would miss the first leg of any potential semi-final, a gamble that ultimately limited Liverpool’s options for a penalty shoot-out that ended in heartbreak.

Curtis Jones replaced Mac Allister in extra time, but it goes without saying the Argentine midfielder’s presence could’ve impacted the shoot-out.

Despite relentless pressure in the final stages and extra time, with both teams creating chances and the tension palpable, the game ultimately boiled down to penalties.

And here, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma became the hero.

His two saves from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones were the game-changers that handed PSG the victory. Liverpool had looked promising from the spot, with Salah converting their first, but Donnarumma’s brilliance between the sticks proved insurmountable.

Nunez and Jones both failed to deliver under pressure, allowing PSG to score every one of their penalties and seal the win.

Slot stands by his man: Liverpool coach consoles devastated Nunez after PSG defeat

This scenario sums up Liverpool’s season in Europe: brilliant, yet agonisingly short of what was required. Even when the team showed promise, crucial decisions and tight moments led to their demise. These are the growing pains of a new manager trying to take the club in a new direction.

Slot’s tactical vision was clear; while he may not have won on this particular occasion, his leadership was far from the issue.

Premier League glory on the horizon

While the Champions League exit stings, there is solace to be found in Liverpool’s domestic form. Slot has taken charge of a team that are currently leading the Premier League, with a commanding 15-point lead over second-placed Arsenal.

See the current Premier League table on Tribuna.com

The Reds are almost certainly heading toward their first league title in several years, showing resilience and quality against some of the best teams in the league.

It’s hard to understate how impressive this achievement is, considering the constant media speculation and pressures that come with managing a club of Liverpool’s stature.

Slot’s ability to keep Liverpool focused in the league, even as their European hopes faltered, speaks to his managerial acumen. His tactics have often been spot-on in the Premier League, and he has managed to bring the best out of players like Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott. However, winning the league title will only go so far in securing his legacy – unless the squad around him is given the right tools to sustain this success.

Revealed: earliest date Liverpool can win Premier League title

Backing Slot: the summer investment Liverpool need

Despite the Premier League title charge, Liverpool are also up for a high-stakes Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United on Sunday. A win would soften the blow of crashing out of Europe, but a loss may raise more pressing questions.

Slot has done admirably with what he has, but there is a clear need for investment in key areas. If Liverpool truly want to build a team capable of challenging both domestically and on the European stage in the years to come, FSG must provide the necessary financial backing in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Liverpool need depth, particularly in midfield and defence. With Virgil van Dijk’s future uncertain and several key players facing the twilight of their careers, Slot requires fresh faces to balance the squad.

The club cannot afford to stand still if they want to avoid falling into the same pitfalls of past seasons, where individual brilliance alone was enough to carry them through but lacked the depth to secure silverware on all fronts.

The verdict: overachievement or underachievement?

Slot’s first season at Liverpool has been one of mixed fortunes. On the one hand, the Premier League title is well within reach, a sign of his success. On the other, the club’s failure to progress in the Champions League points to missed opportunities.

It could be argued that Liverpool have underachieved in these other competitions, especially given their pedigree and the expectations that come with managing such a club. However, it is also clear that Slot has maximised the potential of his squad with a limited budget and a squad that is, at times, aging and injury-prone.

Ultimately, whether this season is viewed as a success or failure will come down to how Liverpool finish the campaign.

Should they claim the Premier League title, it would be difficult to label the season as anything but a success, but without significant backing from the owners, Slot’s promising start may be stifled by squad limitations.

If Liverpool are serious about competing with the best in both domestic and European competitions, they must back their manager with the resources he needs. Only then will Slot’s vision truly come to fruition.

It’s time for Liverpool’s owners to make the decisive move – not just for the short-term, but for the long-term future of the club under Slot.

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