Slot Demands Full Commitment Against PSG
Liverpool have suffered 15 defeats across all competitions this season.
Arne Slot has stated that Liverpool must perform consistently for the entire 90 minutes to have any chance against Paris St-Germain, while disputing Virgil Van Dijk's assertion that the team gave up during their recent FA Cup defeat.
Following Liverpool's 4-0 loss to Manchester City last Saturday, captain Van Dijk expressed disappointment with his teammates.
"You shouldn't give up and that's maybe, at a certain point, what happened,"
Van Dijk commented after Liverpool's 15th loss of the campaign.
The Reds face mounting pressure to recover as they prepare to meet European champions PSG in the Champions League quarter-final first leg in Paris on Wednesday, with kickoff at 20:00 BST.
Slot cautioned his squad that a significantly improved performance is necessary to avoid another heavy defeat.
"I didn't see players giving up, but I also think it is good from a captain that he has a strong and firm reaction,"
Slot said during a press conference in Paris on Tuesday.
"This year we have been quite experienced in terms of negativity. This was a big one because it was a [FA Cup] quarter-final. It was a big loss against our rivals."
Liverpool conceded four goals within 20 minutes around the halftime break against City.
"I can tell you if we have the 20 minutes we had at City tomorrow evening here, we will again concede four goals,"
Slot added.
"So it is a challenge for us to be from the first to the last second at the level we were at in the first 35 minutes [against City]."
'We Believe in the Manager' - Wirtz
Last April, Liverpool celebrated winning the Premier League title. This April, they are striving to salvage their season.
Despite last season’s success in his debut campaign, Slot faces significant pressure to secure Champions League football for next season—either by winning the current tournament or qualifying through their Premier League position.
"Yes, of course we are believing in the manager,"
said Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz on Tuesday.
"The team should believe in the manager because they won the league last season, we had a lot of good games this season.
"We wanted it to be better but we still have things to play for."
When asked about managing the pressure and what is required to turn the season around, Slot responded:
"The answer is already in the history of Liverpool,"
"This group has shown many times that they have comeback after setbacks and this club has shown it many many times over the years.
"My team has shown many times in big games that we are able to compete with the best teams in Europe."
Will Fit-Again Isak Feature in Paris?
Paris St-Germain have a strong record against Premier League clubs.
Since the start of last season, the Ligue 1 leaders have defeated Manchester City, Aston Villa, Arsenal (twice), Tottenham, Chelsea (twice), and Liverpool.
This season, PSG have aimed to replicate last season’s success and recent performances suggest they are on track.
They dominated their last tie against Chelsea, winning 8-2 on aggregate.
Liverpool’s £125m club-record signing Alexander Isak is available again after recovering from ankle surgery.
Isak has not played since December but has traveled to Paris and could feature in the match.
"He can play a part otherwise I wouldn't have brought him,"
Slot said, indicating possible changes with Jeremie Frimpong and Alexis Mac Allister expected to return to the lineup.
