PSG Exposed Major Liverpool Squad Flaw That Arne Slot Made Worse Heading Into Return Leg | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with a 4-1 victory in a penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 on aggregate with Liverpool Tuesday night at Anfield.

With the tie now settled, one journalist noted that a significant weakness in Liverpool’s squad was exposed, especially considering the match had to go to extra time and penalties.

The game saw PSG take the lead in the 12th minute when Nuno Mendes passed to Ousmane Dembele at the center. Dembele quickly fed the ball to Bradley Barcola on the right, and his return pass deflected off Ibrahima Konate’s sliding tackle, unintentionally setting up Dembele for an easy finish.

Neither side scored in extra time, sending the game to penalties. PSG converted all four of their attempts against Alisson Becker, while Gianluigi Donnarumma stood firm in goal for the visitors.

After conceding a penalty to Mohamed Salah, Donnarumma made crucial saves against Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones. The shootout ended when Desire Doue calmly slotted in the final penalty, securing PSG’s spot in the next round.

PSG had an overlooked advantage of Liverpool

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One aspect of the time that might go under the radar is the squad depth that PSG had over Liverpool. In his Henry Winter’s Goal Post newsletter, journalist Henry Winter noted that Luis Enrique counting on players like Doue and Goncalo Ramos off the bench showed the strength of the Parisians’ depth while the Reds were exposed.

“PSG have more strength in depth than Liverpool,” Winter wrote. “As Desire Doue showed in coming on after 67 minutes (and sweeping in his penalty). As Goncalo Ramos showed when coming on a minute before the end of extra time, not having a touch but effortlessly nailing his penalty. Overall, PSG absolutely deserved to go through.”

Even though Arne Slot’s side has a double-digit lead in the Premier League race, Winter was shocked that Liverpool didn’t rest any players in last weekend’s contest against Southampton.

“Having accepted PSG’s credentials, there are questions to be raised about Liverpool, lessons to be learned,” Winter added. “PSG looked fresher. Their league is undeniably less demanding. They’d prepared better.

“Luis Enrique started only three regulars against Rennes on Saturday (Willian Pacho, Bradley Barcola and Joao Neves). Of the XI Arne Slot chose to start against bottom-placed Southampton at home on Saturday, eight started against PSG.”