Arne Slot has declared Liverpool still believes a historic Champions League comeback is within reach despite a daunting first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
NOP NIGERIA reports that the Reds head into Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield trailing 2-0 after a dominant display from the French champions in Paris. Yet Arne Slot insists his side can still produce a night to remember on Merseyside.
Liverpool have overturned a two-goal away deficit in Europe only twice before, against Auxerre in 1991 and Barcelona in 2019. Slot believes the numbers at home offer genuine encouragement.
“In the last 50 home games we have played, 36 times we were able to score two goals or more. Yes, we don’t play PSG in all of those home games but the opponents we have had across the Premier League and Champions League are very strong,” said Slot.
“Yes, there is a belief we can do special things but we also need to be very, very, very special because we are playing against the champions of Europe, so that makes the task more complicated but not impossible.”
The Liverpool manager also issued a rallying call to supporters, pointing to the role the crowd played when the club knocked out Galatasaray in the previous round.
“They [the fans] will be just as important as our performance,” he said.
“I think we have to be much much better than last week, and their players are experienced and have experienced Anfield a year ago [when they went through on penalties].
“They know what is coming up so I can only hope that our fans find an extra gear compared to last year when the atmosphere was unbelievable.
“But I think our fans are up for it and I think I can trust them [to be] even louder than last season.”
Arne Slot Insists On Comeback
Liverpool failed to register a shot on target in France and were, in Slot’s own words, “lucky” to lose only 2-0. The Dutchman, however, pointed to past comebacks to highlight his belief.
“You want one example, two, 10 or 200? After the first half at the Etihad [in the 4-0 FA Cup defeat against Manchester City] did you expect City to be three goals up after 20 minutes of the second half?” said Slot.
“Against Galatasaray, we could have scored eight or nine at home, so the amount of times that we have shown we can be much better than we were at PSG, that’s clear.
“A goal can change momentum, which happened in a negative way at the Etihad and in a positive way on Saturday [against Fulham] at Anfield.”
Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai echoed the manager’s confidence, insisting the squad are ready to give everything to keep their European campaign alive.
“I believe completely because I know what we are able to do, what kind of players we have and what kind of mentality we have,” the Hungarian said.
“We’ve shown it many times, but maybe not every time, and that’s what we need again from the start.
“My message to them [the fans] is that we are going to go all in. We’ll give our best from minute one to minute 90 or maybe for 120, 125 minutes if needed.
“I can speak for all the players – we want it so bad, and in one game, anything can happen at Anfield.”
PSG’s Ligue 1 fixture against Lens was postponed at the weekend, giving the visitors extra preparation time. Defender Ibrahima Konaté admitted the break would help the visitors, a point Szoboszlai accepted.
“Of course, it is a difference when they can rest between the two games. It gives them two days extra for recovery, analysing the game, getting ready for the game,” he said.
“We have to deal with it and we are professional enough to deal with it. That is our job to do.”
Slot also hinted teenage forward Rio Ngumoha could feature after scoring his first Anfield goal at the weekend.
“Yeah I think he can [cope] – first of all because of personality, he doesn’t get distracted,” said Slot.
“Everyone who knows his history, there is expectation around him for years and he has always been able to focus on football and been ready at 16 years of age to score his first goal and at 17 to have multiple starts for Liverpool.
“Secondly, his quality. He has shown he is able to take one-on-ones on and make it difficult for the defenders he is facing.
“He has done a very good job managing what comes to him now but it also helps to have so many good players around him.”
