PARIS (AP) — Out of the Premier League title race. Routed in the FA Cup. Mounting questions over the supervisor’s future. A star striker set to go away. A disgruntled captain saying his group gave up.
Liverpool heads into the primary leg of its Champions League quarterfinal against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in disarray. A far cry from when the perimeters met in the final 16 final 12 months.
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Back then, Liverpool was romping to the Premier League title, new supervisor Arne Slot was the toast of the town and Mo Salah was at his sensible finest. By distinction PSG had struggled to get out of the Champions League group stage and observers have been questioning coach Luis Enrique’s strategies.
PSG scraped by way of on penalties against Liverpool after an intense battle over two legs.
“Arne Slot has spoken about what an incredible match it was,” PSG midfielder Vitinha said Tuesday at a pre-match news conference. “They didn’t have a chance ( in the first leg ) apart from the goal they scored and (goalkeeper) Allison was man of the match.”
Knocking the six-time champion out — away at Anfield, no less — gave PSG the belief it could finally win the Champions League. By contrast, Liverpool’s agonizing defeat marked the start of Salah’s decline as Liverpool’s aura took a hit.
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Liverpool then began the current campaign poorly as Salah’s goals dried up and he clashed with Slot.
PSG is closing in on another French title but Liverpool is fifth in the Premier League, a hefty 21 points behind leader Arsenal. Following a crushing 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, captain Virgil van Dijk said his side “gave up” and he apologized to followers.
Slot known as it a humbling loss.
The Dutchman is reportedly clinging onto his job. Salah will be gone subsequent season and, if PSG knocks out Liverpool, a trophy-less season might price Slot his place.
But PSG is obstructing out any speak about being the favourite this time.
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“Favorite according to you (the media). The same way you said last year that Liverpool was,” mentioned Vitinha, who completed third in the Ballon d’Or standings in 2025. “Even if Liverpool are not in their best form they remain a great team with great players.”
Ekitiké menace
Liverpool ahead Hugo Ekitiké returns to face his previous facet as a participant remodeled.
He joined PSG 4 years in the past as a promising 19-year-old however struggled to make an affect in a group containing Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi. He scored solely 4 targets in 33 video games in two disappointing seasons.
“You could already see the qualities he had,” Vitinha said in his defense. “It just wasn’t the right context for him at the time.”
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A transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt modified Ekitiké’s fortunes and, after scoring 22 targets final season, he earned an enormous transfer to Premier League champion Liverpool for 69 million kilos (then $93.5 million).
He has carried out properly with 17 targets and has damaged into the France group, and nationwide coach Didier Deschamps appreciates his potential to assault from deep and dribble at pace.
“Normally I don’t talk about players who don’t play for PSG,” Luis Enrique said when asked about Ekitiké. “But after leaving PSG he did well in Germany and England. He was very young when he was here and he has improved a lot.” ___
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