Liverpool manager Arne Slot has defended his decision to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench during the club’s 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain, insisting his side were focused on damage control rather than chasing goals.
Failure to record a single shot on target in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, the Reds had a trying night in Paris. Salah remained unused despite the attacking difficulties, surprising both supporters and commentators.
With Liverpool pinned deep in their own half, Slot stated that the final phases of the game offered little chance of staging a comeback. He proposed that placing Salah in a rather defensive setting would not have suited the forward’s skills, especially given the tight schedule ahead.
The News Chronicle understands that fitness management also played a part in the decision as Liverpool gets set for important home games and the return leg at Anfield. Rather than risk exhaustion in a game where his influence was predicted to be modest, Slot chose to save Salah’s energy.
Captain Virgil van Dijk admitted the team struggled to handle PSG’s intensity and noted Liverpool spent much of the game under fire from a powerful team led by Luis Enrique.
Liverpool must overcome a two-goal deficit in the second leg, requiring a strong reaction at home to maintain their Champions League aspirations.
