The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals got underway this week with a mix of tense battles and dramatic moments across Europe, but nowhere was the spotlight brighter than on Liverpool's struggles under manager Arne Slot. On Wednesday night at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-0 first-leg victory over a beleaguered Liverpool side, leaving fans and analysts questioning whether Slot's tenure at Anfield is hanging by a thread. The match, which saw PSG dominate possession and create numerous chances, highlighted Liverpool's ongoing form issues, with the Reds managing just three shots, none on target, and an expected goals (xG) tally of 0.18.
ESPN FC writers dissected the performance, with Sam Tighe noting that Liverpool appeared 'doomed' before the game even started due to their fragility and leaky defense late in matches. Tighe pointed out Slot's tactical shift to a 5-2-1-2 formation with three center backs, aimed at using wide combinations and Dominik Szoboszlai's energy to support the attack, but it backfired, allowing PSG's Vitinha and midfielders ample time to control the center. 'I'm not sure we learned anything about the Reds (except that Alexander Isak is fit again), but we did have it confirmed that PSG, the reigning European champions, are humming at just the right time of the season,' Tighe said.
Gab Marcotti offered a more balanced view, defending Slot's bold formation change as a necessary surprise against a superior PSG side. 'We can keep blaming Slot for everything and sure, trying to surprise PSG with a formation you've never played or trained before seems silly with the benefit of hindsight. But what's the alternative? Doing nothing, trying to play them straight up and getting hammered?' Marcotti questioned. He criticized Slot's late substitutions, including a quadruple change 12 minutes from time without bringing on Mohamed Salah, but emphasized that Liverpool remains in the tie at 2-0 down. 'He may not be a genius but making this all about him and his shortcomings isn't fair,' Marcotti added.
Mark Ogden was harsher on PSG's wastefulness, suggesting manager Luis Enrique should be furious for not securing a larger lead. 'Liverpool are absolutely still in this tie and Luis Enrique should be furious about that. He seemed quite relaxed about it during his postmatch news conference, but PSG should have won by five or six,' Ogden wrote. He attributed Liverpool's woes to a lack of midfield legs and forwards who don't work hard enough, predicting a tough second leg at Anfield next week but acknowledging Slot's hope was just to keep the tie alive.
Julien Laurens placed much of the blame squarely on Slot, calling the back-five setup 'total nonsense' that encouraged passive defending. 'His back five was total nonsense, he encouraged his team to just defend... and the players -- who have been poor all season long (and that's not just on Slot) -- looked lost,' Laurens said. He highlighted visible frustration among players like Florian Wirtz, Szoboszlai, and Salah on the bench, suggesting Slot has 'lost the team.' Laurens noted Liverpool should have lost 5-0 and were lucky to escape with a lesser scoreline, underscoring deeper club issues beyond the manager.
Former Liverpool player Steve Nicol echoed a sense of relief, stating the team would be 'thankful to be just two goals down heading into the second leg against PSG at Anfield.' The match comes amid Liverpool's broader struggles this season, following a recent FA Cup defeat to Manchester City where they were hammered playing a more conventional setup. Recruitment shortcomings and a lack of confidence have plagued the Reds, with this performance potentially marking their worst under Slot since he took over in the summer.
Elsewhere in the quarterfinals, Tuesday's action at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid delivered a thriller as Bayern Munich edged Real Madrid 2-1, thanks in large part to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's vintage performance. The game featured 40 combined shots and 4.96 xG, with Neuer denying Kylian Mbappé multiple times, including two 'truly special' saves according to Marcotti. Real Madrid's backup keeper Andriy Lunin, standing in for the injured Thibaut Courtois, conceded to Harry Kane and could have done better, analysts said.
Laurens emphasized the absence of Courtois as a 'massive blow' for Real Madrid, who have relied on him and Mbappé to stay on track this season. 'Lunin is a good backup keeper, but he's not good enough to win you games (or prevent you from losing) like Neuer can be -- and like he was on Tuesday night at the Bernabéu,' Laurens explained. At 40 years old, Neuer 'turned back the clock,' proving his status as one of the greatest goalkeepers ever, especially in high-stakes Champions League nights.
Marcotti agreed on the goalkeeping factor but pointed to Bayern's failure to hold a two-goal lead as equally significant. 'Bayern absolutely battered Real Madrid in the first half and, I think, should have been more than just a goal up. Then, at 2-0, with the fans freaking out and Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa making tweaks, you have to see the game out,' he said. He dismissed notions of 'stage fright' at the Bernabéu affecting Bayern, calling it an old trope. Frank Leboeuf attributed Bayern's slip to 'sloppiness' that allowed Real back into the contest.
Ogden reinforced the importance of elite goalkeeping, noting Real's loss was largely due to Neuer's heroics versus Lunin's less inspiring showing. 'There's no doubt that Neuer has given Bayern a huge advantage going into the second leg, but it's still too close to call,' Ogden wrote. He speculated that if Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham perform at their best next week at the Allianz Arena, Real could overturn the deficit. Tighe highlighted Bayern's first-half dominance, which wasn't fully reflected in the stats—Real matched their 20 shots and had nine on target—but the final 15 minutes turned chaotic, with Bellingham disrupting Bayern's midfield.
In Lisbon, Arsenal scraped a 1-0 win over Sporting CP at the Estádio José Alvalade, courtesy of Kai Havertz's injury-time goal. The Gunners' attacking output was subpar, missing key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard, but David Raya's saves and Mikel Arteta's substitutions turned the tide. Marcotti questioned Arsenal's favoritism status, saying their solidity and set-pieces have limits against organized defenses. 'Considering they're 1-0 up before the home leg, which bodes well for the semifinal, sure, you have to say they're a favorite, but... we've seen Arsenal's limits,' he noted.
Laurens defended Arsenal's style, describing them as 'the best team tactically in the world right now, the most physical side, and the strongest team out of possession.' Despite missing four starters—including Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapié, and Jurriën Timber—Arsenal's control and structure make them a formidable force. 'Nobody would want to face them in the next round, especially as they are guaranteed to play the semifinal second leg at home if they qualify,' Laurens added. He praised Raya's immense season, placing him among Player of the Year contenders alongside Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice, and William Saliba.
Ogden acknowledged Arsenal's physical dominance over Sporting, who played the better football but couldn't match the Gunners' muscle. 'It's quite depressing to watch at times because there is a real chance that Arsenal could bully their way to Champions League glory,' he said, though he tempered Laurens' praise, doubting they control games like PSG. Tighe expressed concern over Arsenal's dropping confidence, arguing true favorites should be in top gear at this stage, unlike Bayern or PSG. Craig Burley called the performance underwhelming despite the result.
Wednesday also saw Barcelona fall 2-0 at home to Atlético Madrid at the Camp Nou, with a late red card to defender Pau Cubarsí and an injury to Pedri (or perhaps a precaution) compounding Hansi Flick's woes. VAR Review questioned the red card's legitimacy, but Marcotti deemed it correct. Diego Simeone's counterattacking trap exploited Barcelona's push for goals, a pattern seen in cup ties despite Barça's LaLiga wins over Atlético. At halftime, with Cubarsí sent off, Flick substituted Pedri for Gavi and Fermín López for Robert Lewandowski, then surprisingly went aggressive despite the numerical disadvantage.
Marcotti noted Simeone would be content with the 2-0 lead to defend at the Metropolitano next week. 'No, I think Simeone will be happy with the 2-0 all told,' he said, praising Eric García's outstanding shift to defense. As the second legs approach next week—Liverpool hosting PSG at Anfield, Bayern welcoming Real at the Allianz Arena, Arsenal facing Sporting at the Emirates, and Atlético hosting Barcelona—the stakes couldn't be higher. These ties could redefine seasons, with managerial futures like Slot's and tactical masterclasses from Neuer and Raya potentially deciding progression to the semifinals.