Slot call fails to pay off as Liverpool outclassed in PSG loss

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 2-0 LIVERPOOL: Fine goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia mean Liverpool have it all to do in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-finals

Liverpool have a mountain to climb in order to keep their season alive after they were comprehensively beaten 2-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The reigning European champions swarmed over their challengers from the off and Liverpool's resistance lasted just 11 minutes; Desire Doue wriggled away from two red shirts with a smart turn in the corner of the penalty area before unleashing a strike which looped up over Giorgi Mamardashvili courtesy of a deflection from the unfortunate Ryan Gravenberch.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia twice went close to doubling PSG's lead during the remainder of a one-sided first half where Liverpool failed to muster a single shot.

Arne Slot's men did improve after the break as they went in search of an equaliser ahead of next week's return leg at Anfield. But Kvaratskhelia scored a stunning solo goal to give PSG a healthy advantage to bring with them to Merseyside. Here are Mirror Football's talking points...

1) Slot rolls the dice

With the memory of the weekend's implosion against Manchester City still haunting them, Liverpool lined up with a back three at the Parc des Princes, with Joe Gomez alongside Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong operating as wing-backs.

Unfortunately, that extra body did not translate to an improved defensive performance. PSG looked sharp from minute one and it didn't take long for them to breach the Reds. And Doue's early, albeit deflected, strike was sadly a sign of things to come for the beleaguered Premier League champions, even if they did escape further damage in the first period of the game.

With the advantage of playing the second leg at Anfield, a one goal deficit would have been an acceptable outcome for Slot's men and keeping things tight likely played into the thinking with the change of shape. But a team of PSG's quality heading to Anfield with a two-goal advantage feels daunting, even if not totally insurmountable.

2) A tale of two attacks

Last month's announcement that Mo Salah would be leaving Liverpool this summer marked the end of an era. He was the last bastion of the Liverpool attack that terrorised teams, first with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, then with Luis Diaz. Basically, in the Salah era, Liverpool have been blessed with some serious firepower.

Watching PSG at times streaming forward through the likes of Doue, Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele felt reminiscent of some of those Liverpool attacks of old. While PSG had stardust all over the pitch, Liverpool were devoid of it with Salah now in decline.

Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz were ineffective. PSG is a tough marker and while Wirtz has been slow, Ekitike has impressed since joining in the summer. Alexander Isak, a second half substitute, has also been one of the Premier League's best strikers in recent years and will bring goals. But when it comes to a frontline that can rival Europe's elite, like PSG, it feels like Liverpool are now the ones playing catch up.

3) PSG a cut above

Chalking up consecutive European titles is no mean feat. But on this evidence, PSG will take some stopping in their quest to retain their Champions League crown.

They demolished Inter 5-0 to win Europe's most coveted prize for the first time ever last year. And they did the same to Chelsea over two legs to reach the quarter-finals before flexing their muscles again against Liverpool, who should have been on the end of a beating.

Make no mistake, this was as one-sided as it gets in Europe. And while Liverpool - who failed to register a single shot on target all evening - haven't enjoyed the best of campaigns, take nothing away from PSG, who are seriously, seriously good. And that's why a second Champions League trophy, just 12 months after the first, is looking more and more like a formality.

4) Isak gives Slot a boost

It's been a challenging campaign for Liverpool and Slot, but the sight of Isak back on the pitch will be a big boost for everyone in red.

The Sweden striker made his first appearance in three-and-a-half months in the final few minutes second half as Liverpool went in search of a goal. And while that didn't come, the prospect of Isak featuring for longer in the return leg is a major plus for the Reds.

5) Salah's long goodbye

Liverpool's big-game player for so long, the fact that few eyebrows were raised when Salah was named on the bench for Wednesday night's seismic encounter in Paris sums up how dramatically the Egyptian forward's form has declined this term.

And if there were any doubts over Salah's standing in this Liverpool team, the fact he was not one of the four changes Slot made in the 78th minute with the Reds needing a goal says it all.

After a poor showing against Manchester City, there must surely now be a genuine chance that Salah's farewell tour will largely consist of him warming the bench. And while that would be a sad end to such an illustrious relationship between Salah and Liverpool, it's hard to make a case for him starting games right now.