Liverpool Focused on Victory, Not Just Holding Lead Against PSG, Says Slot
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made it clear that his team will play to win, not just defend their 1-0 advantage, when they host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League second-leg at Anfield on Tuesday.
Liverpool head into the match with a narrow lead after Harvey Elliott’s dramatic late winner and a heroic goalkeeping performance from Alisson secured a hard-fought victory in Paris last week.
Attacking Mindset at Anfield
“We try to win every game,” Slot told reporters on Monday. “We want a different game than last week, and our intentions are the same—we don’t want a draw. We want the ball as much as we can.”
There was good news on the squad front as Slot confirmed that Cody Gakpo will be available after recovering from an ankle injury. The Dutch forward, who missed three of Liverpool’s last five league games, trained on Monday and is expected to be in contention.
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A Crucial Week for Liverpool
The clash with PSG marks the start of a massive week for Liverpool. They extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 15 points over the weekend, following a 3-1 win against Southampton and Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Adding to the excitement, Liverpool can claim their first trophy of the season on Sunday when they face Newcastle United in the League Cup final at Wembley.
Despite the high stakes, Slot dismissed any thoughts of dreaming about silverware.
“No, you don’t dream, you have to work really hard to prepare the team in the best way,” he said. “I try to do this every game. After a match like last week’s in Paris, you wonder if you can even sleep.”
“I don’t dream this week. We are focused. The week started well on Saturday, and now we look forward to tomorrow—everyone looks forward to a game like this.”
Respect for PSG’s Quality
While Liverpool have the advantage, Slot acknowledged the threat posed by PSG and their manager, Luis Enrique.
“The result (in the first leg) was ours, but the performance was theirs,” Slot admitted. “Being 1-0 up gives us confidence, but their performance gives them confidence too.”
“This is the most complete team we have faced so far. They have so much quality with a great coach. He lets them play in a way that is not easy to play against—their work rate is incredible.”
With an attacking mindset and a buzzing Anfield crowd behind them, Liverpool are set for a high-stakes battle to secure their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals.
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