Liverpool not taking part in for a draw in opposition to ´unimaginable´ PSG, says Slot

Arne Slot insisted that his Liverpool crew will look to win moderately than defend their 1-0 lead in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain of their Champions League final 16 tie on Tuesday.

Harvey Elliott’s 87th-minute strike snatched a victory for the Reds on the Parc des Princes within the first leg, having been dominated by PSG for a lot of the contest.

Certainly, Liverpool received the match regardless of having 25 fewer pictures than PSG, the joint-largest unfavorable distinction in pictures by a successful crew on report (from 2003-04) in a Champions League knockout stage recreation (PSG v Bayern Munich in April 2021 additionally 25).

And after dropping their first European assembly with the Parisiens in April 1997 (0-3 within the Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final first leg), Liverpool have solely misplaced one in every of 4 in opposition to them since, successful three of them.

And Slot mentioned that his gamers have been out for one more victory over the French aspect this time round to achieve the quarter-finals of the competitors for the primary time since 2021-22.

“We attempt to win each recreation,” Slot informed reporters on Monday. “We would like a distinct recreation (than final week) and our intentions are the identical. We don’t need a draw. We would like the ball as a lot as we will.”

Slot additionally confirmed that Cody Gakpo could be again out there, having missed three of Liverpool’s final 5 Premier League video games attributable to an ankle damage.

Gakpo has impressed within the Champions League this time period, with solely talisman Mohamed Salah (seven) registering extra objective involvements than the Dutchman (4).

Following their assembly with Luis Enrique’s aspect, Liverpool tackle Newcastle United for the primary piece of silverware in English soccer within the EFL Cup ultimate on Sunday.

The Reds additionally prolonged their lead on the Premier League summit to fifteen factors after coming from a objective all the way down to beat backside membership Southampton, with second-placed Arsenal held to a 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Sunday.

Slot, nonetheless, laughed off ideas that he was dreaming of lifting silverware in his debut season on Merseyside this week.

“No, you don’t dream, it’s a must to work actually exhausting to arrange the crew one of the best ways,” he mentioned. “I strive to do that each recreation.

“When you could have a recreation like final week (at PSG) you marvel in case you may even sleep.

“I don’t dream this week. We’re centered, and the week began off nicely on Saturday, and now we look ahead to tomorrow. Everybody seems ahead to a recreation like this.”

“The consequence (within the first leg) was ours, however the efficiency was for them. We’re 1-0 up, and it provides us confidence; the efficiency (provides PSG confidence).

“That is probably the most full crew we now have confronted up to now. They’ve a lot high quality with a terrific coach (Luis Enrique). He lets them play in a means that isn’t straightforward to play in opposition to; (their) work-rate is unimaginable.”