Liverpool

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French football journalist Julien Laurens says he is "not sure Arne Slot's message is getting through anymore" and that he is "struggling" to see the Liverpool boss still in the job next season.

Liverpool's Champions League hopes are hanging in the balance after a demoralising defeat by reigning European champions Paris St-Germain - their 16th loss of the season.

"PSG will look back at the game and think it should have been four or five easily," Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"The stats make such embarrassing reading if you're Liverpool. It's embarrassing what they didn't produce.

"The issue I have with the back five is Liverpool didn't come to play football. This is not Liverpool.

"I don't care if you're in good form or not, you still have good players who can play better than what we saw. Their expected goals was 0.18, they had no shots on target.

"Three shots from the edge of the box all evening, they just did nothing. You can play the back five as long as you come to play football, not just park the bus.

"Somebody was telling me earlier they haven't even worked on that system in training.

"I have to say I'm struggling to see Slot on the bench there next season. This season has been so disappointing. I know it's not just on him, but I think just too often this season they haven't been good enough.

"They should have been much better than they have been and I understand the fans' frustrations around Slot, especially given the lack of intensity. You can look at the Kvaratskhelia goal - an amazing goal but there's 27 passes in that move and that means for 27 passes there is not a Liverpool player close enough to a PSG player to make an interception or a tackle.

"I'm just not sure that Slot's message is getting through anymore."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We asked for your views on Wednesday's defeat against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League.

Here are some of your comments:

Norman: So sad to see a Liverpool football team walk out onto a pitch knowing they were beaten before the match started. Not one Liverpool player looked confident. The players didn't have a clue what they were doing. There's no spirit in the team, no leader on the pitch and to put five substitutes on and Salah not be one was downright stupidity. Light-weight team, light-weight manager.

Pete: Another abject performance and 6-0 wouldn't have flattered PSG in all honesty - two penalties we managed to somehow avoid along with the red card that would have followed. Slot has lost the dressing room, the fans and seemingly all confidence in himself at this point.

Jason: Parking the bus is the anti-thesis of the Liverpool way. Honestly, I don't know whether to feel angry, frustrated or ashamed. We were extremely fortunate to escape a trouncing. It's only a matter of time before Slot is shown the exit.

Hibbsy: You can't win a football match if you don't lay a glove on the opposition! Just running around, posing without getting stuck in, not committing any full-blooded tackles. At this level, Liverpool's performance is just not acceptable. It's the quarter-final of the Champions League! If you can't compete given what's at stake maybe you are not fit to wear the shirt.

Jimmy: Pragmatic. Intelligent set up from Slot to limit damage in Paris, but could have been undone by hopeless Konate (again). Brief spells such as the beginning of second half where we showed glimpses of attacking prowess. First time I've seen Mamardashvili show that he might have what it takes. I'm saying 3-1 to the Reds on Tuesday and we go through on pens.

Fran: The team looked like they struggled with the new formation and although we only conceded two we were so, so fortunate. I don't think it was worth making such wholesale changes. And let's not kid ourselves; we aren't coming back from this, Anfield or not.

Peter: Absolutely dire, Some players should be totally embarrassed by their performance. Arne Slot - his substitutions are mind-bogglingly wrong most of the time. Forget this season, it's a total loss.

Mark: No shots on target and 26% possession. Need I say more? Slot to go.

Image source, Getty Images

Jamie Carragher says the gulf between Liverpool and Paris St.Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final was "absolutely startling".

The Reds, who failed to register a shot on target at Parc des Princes, have a two-goal deficit to overturn in next week's second leg.

"In some ways it's actually a great result for Liverpool because it should have been five or six in that game. The gulf between the two teams was absolutely startling," the former Liverpool defender told CBS Sports.

"When you consider last season, yes Liverpool got battered at PSG and they won 1-0, we know that but the second leg at Anfield was a really close game - two top teams.

"Liverpool then go and spend £450m, probably a lot more than PSG spent in the summer and to see the gulf there is worrying, you think how has it got to that, how has it got that bad?"

Reds boss Arne Slot switched to a back five and Carragher says it is the most "uncomfortable" he has seen Virgil van Dijk in a Liverpool shirt.

"At 34 years of age he was having to run in there, run across, he couldn't do it," Carragher added.

"People have criticised Van Dijk this season about his performances and I think it has been harsh because he plays every game, the fella next to him has just been awful all season, he was poor again [against PSG] Ibrahima Konate, he makes a mistake every game so that's not easy to play alongside.

"I still think Van Dijk has been one of Liverpool's better players but in that back three I have never seen him so uncomfortable in a Liverpool shirt in my life and I think he'll be pleading with Arne Slot to never play that system ever again because he found it so tough.

"It's not just the system of Liverpool and getting it wrong tactically, PSG were absolutely out of this world and the biggest compliment I can give them, it was like watching Pep Guardiola's Barcelona."

Did you know?

• Liverpool have lost four consecutive away games in all competitions for the first time since between February and April 2012.

Arne Slot spoke to TNT Sports after Liverpool's defeat against Paris St-Germain: "If you reflect on the whole game I think we are lucky with only losing two nil. The first goal felt hard. I think it was very good for us we are still in the tie, we can bring them to Anfield and we know how good Anfield can be for us."

"I watched the game yesterday between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. You need performances like that, you need a hardworking team that do everything against a team like PSG. When we needed Alisson Becker he was there for us. He played a good game today."

On whether they created enough chances: "Yes and no, yes because we want to create much more chances, no because there was not a lot to create for us. We tried many times to get them high, but they were able to play through us when we went man-to-man. I think that happened in the second half as well. There were a few times with players in promising positions."

Virgil van Dijk spoke to TNT Sports: "Tough, tough work. Always expected. I think we defended with a lot of bodies around the box. Unfortunately, the first goal is a deflection. We get some small moments on the break where we could have done better.

"But now it's a quick turnaround, and we have Fulham waiting for us as well."

On playing with a back five: "They always move around everywhere. We have to communicate and follow your man and take risks in that sense. As well and wait for the right moment to win the ball. Hopefully, we can be much better, especially possession at Anfield.

On the second leg: "We have to be absolutely spot on. Hopefully, our fans can play a big part in that. Our fans are the backbone of the club, and hopefully they can be there for us."

Did you know?

• Liverpool have lost three consecutive matches in all competitions for the third time this season. It's the first time they've had three or more runs of three or more consecutive defeats in a campaign since 1953-54, when they were relegated from the top-flight.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Arne Slot sent out the "wrong signal" by playing a back five in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg in Paris.

The only other time Liverpool had previously fielded a back five this season was in their Carabao Cup fourth-round defeat by Crystal Palace in October.

In their 2-0 win on Wednesday, PSG had 74% of the ball and 18 shots to the Reds' three.

"That was the English champions against the French Champions and ours weren't anywhere near theirs," Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Liverpool came to the Parc des Princes not in a good run of form, with their confidence very very low, as a team that are creaking.

"That's the reason Slot played a back five but as soon as you play a back five it sends the wrong signals out. That's not playing to Liverpool's strengths, it's defending their weaknesses and defending against what attacking problems that the opposition are going to give you.

"In [Achraf] Hakimi, [Nuno] Mendes, [Kvicha] Kvaratskhelia, [Desire] Doue, Arne Slot knew the problems his team would have in wide areas and they were so submissive just by playing that formation.

"Throughout the whole game you look at the possession stats. From a Liverpool point of view, if they had done a smash and grab and got away with a 0-0 or a 1-0 victory or 1-0 defeat it'd be 'OK, they've come here and done a job'.

"But, there was nothing good about that performance from Liverpool. By the way they have set-up and then played tonight, they have sent out the wrong signal."

Did you know?

• Liverpool failed to have a shot on target in a UEFA Champions League match for the first time since November 2020 against Atalanta.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been outstanding for Paris St-Germain in the Champions League this season. He has seven goals in Europe.

Former Wolves loan signing Vitinha scored a hat--trick against Tottenham in the Champions League earlier this season. He has also scored against Newcastle and Chelsea in the competition this season.

Paris St-Germain XI: Safonov, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Zaire Emery, Vitinha, Neves, Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.

Subs: Chevalier, Marin, Lucas Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Goncalo Ramos, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Fernandez, Mbaye.

• Follow the action live

Jeremie Frimpong and Alexis Mac Allister return for Liverpool, replacing Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah, who missed a penalty at Manchester City at the weekend.

Alexander Isak is on the substitutes bench after recovering from injury which has kept him out since December.

Virgil van Dijk has played every minute of every game for Liverpool in the Champions League this season.

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Ekitike.

Subs: Woodman, Misciur, Isak, Salah, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha.

Image source, PA Media

Florian Wirtz has said there is still plenty for Liverpool to play for in the closing weeks of this season.

The Reds are battling to qualify for next season's Champions League and exited the FA Cup on Saturday, but remain in Europe's premier club competition and face holders Paris St-Germain in the first leg of their quarter-final on Wednesday.

"Of course we wanted to have a better season up to now," said Wirtz. "We had some goals this season - the team won the Premier League last season and it was, for sure, the aim for this season as well.

"We are still in the Champions League so there's still something to play for. [There is] also qualification for the Champions League next season so we still have goals we want to achieve.

"We wanted it to be better but there's still something to play for."

Asked about having the team having a chance to end a disappointing campaign with success in Europe, the Germany international added: "It's a very big competition and Champions League games are always special.

"We try to enjoy it, go as far as possible and hopefully get through this round. We know it's difficult because the best teams in the world are playing in the Champions League. It's good to play against these teams and see where you are."

• Listen to the press conference with Wirtz on BBC Sounds

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League will have at least five teams in the Champions League next season after securing a European Performance Spot for the second straight year.

The extra place was confirmed on Tuesday as Arsenal beat Sporting 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Uefa awards an additional place to the two leagues with the best overall performance across the three European competitions.

The race for fifth place in the Premier League, currently held by Liverpool on 49 points, is exceptionally tight.

Just seven points separate Arne Slot's side from 13th-placed Bournemouth.

Chelsea (48) sit in sixth followed by Brentford (46), Everton (46), Fulham (44), Brighton (43), Sunderland (43), Newcastle (42) and Bournemouth (42).

If Aston Villa, who are fourth on 54 points, win the Europa League and finish outside the top four, the Premier League would have six teams in the Champions League.

The same logic applies to Liverpool, who face Paris St-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.

If either win a European trophy and finish fifth, then sixth would qualify for the Champions League via the EPS place.

If both win European trophies and finish fifth and sixth, that would put seventh into the Champions League.

Nottingham Forest are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. They could emulate Tottenham by winning the competition and finishing in the bottom half of the table.

Just like last season, that would create a sixth team in the Champions League for the Premier League too.

Liverpool have joined Newcastle in monitoring 21-year-old Italy defender Marco Palestra, who is currently on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

George Booth
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Paris St-Germain at Parc des Princes (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Alexander Isak will not start for the Reds in Paris, but could play some part as the 26-year-old striker returns from injury. "He can play a part otherwise I wouldn't have taken him [to Paris]," said Slot. "I decided not to take him to the Etihad [against Manchester City on Saturday] because we felt in talks with the player and the medical staff that we were not able to get a performance out of him yet."

• On captain Virgil van Dijk saying Liverpool "gave up" during the 4-0 FA Cup defeat by City, Slot said he "did not see players giving up" when Liverpool trailed by four goals but added: "I think it is good from a captain that he has a strong and firm reaction like that. Hopefully, it is not only just immediately after the game, but we can, as a team, show a strong and firm reaction tomorrow evening."

• Despite the scoreline, Slot said he can take "confidence" from the opening 35 minutes of the City match. "The first 35 minutes gives me confidence we are able to go toe-to-toe against a team that, along with PSG, is one of the best or the best two teams in open play. They are the hardest teams to play against in open play because of their quality and because of the way they are managed," said Slot.

• On facing Luis Enrique's side: "Paris St-Germain showed last season that they do not give you any second of time to have the ball comfortable at your feet. It is press, press, press every second of the game."

• Slot said "it is nice to get a second chance" after PSG knocked Liverpool out of last year's Champions League on penalties. He said: "A lot can happen in two games. By the way, we deserved to lose here last season 4-0 [in the last-16 first leg, which Liverpool won 1-0] much more than we deserved to lose 4-0 [against Manchester City]. That game, it was only thanks to Alisson that we didn't lose 4-0. At Anfield, it wasn't completely the opposite and it wasn't as if we deserved to win 4-0, but I think we deserved to win that game."

• On how Liverpool can turn things around after an "inconsistent" season: "I think the answer lies in the history of Liverpool. This club has always shown that in tough moments that they stand up again. We have had a lot of tough moments, we've stood up a few times, but then fallen down. This club has shown many times that we can do very special things in difficult circumstances."

Listen to Slot's press conference in full on BBC Sounds

Listen to full commentary of Paris St-Germain v Liverpool on Wednesday at 20:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Got a question about Liverpool? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

There's a legitimate argument that Liverpool were the better team against Manchester City until the first goal went in.

But this argument becomes meaningless when this is the 25th time it's happened this season. The pattern is so painful and boring.

Here's what happens: Liverpool start well but miss chances. Liverpool concede when on top from lazy defending. Liverpool lose belief and stop playing aggressively. Opponents gain confidence and dominate. Arne Slot blames the performance on moments.

Slot is right that it's moments that change the game and set the narrative. But the manner in which Liverpool players basically quit at the Etihad is on him.

Even if his players choosing when to fight isn't his fault, he'll ultimately get the blame. That's just how it works.

Some of the players have been an absolute disgrace, however. I'm not talking about Mo Salah, whose legs and confidence have gone simultaneously. He's still trying, he's just no longer a world-class player. Maybe Virgil van Dijk isn't either. In hindsight, Ryan Gravenberch was never one.

It's PSG or bust for Slot and this bizarre iteration of a Liverpool team who were favourites for the Premier League and Champions League at the start of the season.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport senior journalist

Image source, Getty Images

As April swings in and Grand National charges descend on Merseyside for the world's most famous steeplechase, scrutiny of Liverpool's demise from Premier League champions at a canter to comparative also-rans is seemingly intensifying.

Their Champions League meeting with Paris St-Germain on Wednesday appears crucial in stemming a run of form which reads: draw at home with Tottenham, defeat at Brighton, hammering at Manchester City.

Social media is in frenzy. Some of the things being questioned include the coffee bar at the training ground, the cars players drive, watches, Arne Slot's comments, ticket-price changes, Virgil van Dijk's comments, Dominik Szobozslai's body language... the list goes on.

Ultimately, the discourse, theories and hot takes seem to be multiplying. What seems far more scarce is solutions, ways forward, routes to progress, with no obvious sense of who may stop the rot and whether it can be stopped at all.

One step forward may be to run more. Some insist Liverpool's players can't anymore, with a perceived lack of conditioning apparent to those scrutinising the players. Online chat points to more days off for the Reds' players than any time in recent memory.

Data circulated by statisticians Opta on Tuesday appears illuminating. Liverpool - for so long built on Jurgen Klopp's press and intensity - rank 19th for high-intensity pressures applied in the opponent's half in the Premier League this season.

To go further, Slot's side are 20th for high-intensity pressures applied in the middle third of the pitch - 289 fewer than any other side.

Energy conservation seems the name of the game. It is perhaps surprising then that the Reds have seemingly slumped late on in fixtures, leaking 18 goals in the final 20 minutes of league games - that is two more than any other side.

The results are what they are - since matchday six, Liverpool have lost 10 times, winning nine, with as many as 11 sides earning more points than their 34 in that time. It is mid-table form on offer for a fanbase that, one year ago, had just watched the late Diogo Jota win the Merseyside derby to all but end any title doubts.

Saturday will see Liverpool play host to brave horses and jockeys slogging their way over Aintree's turf in pursuit of glory. There will be thrills, winners and dashed dreams. Sweat will be spent.

Slot's side host Fulham a few gallops away shortly after the showpiece race. Questions and disharmony hang in the air.

The sight of sweat being spent on the Anfield turf seems a good place to start if solutions are to be found.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the comments made by Virgil van Dijk about Liverpool "giving up" against Manchester City. Lower down this page you can watch a video on what the team on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club have had to say.

Here are some of your comments:

Kixy: Virgil just said what every Liverpool fan already knew. We played well first 40 minutes and then just capitulated. The manager's comments beforehand about us needing to not concede first surely played a part in the capitulation.

Ben: I've no problem with what Van Dijk has said. The problem is that he hasn't always been much of a leader on the pitch which begs the question of whether he should still be captain or step aside for someone else.

Paul: Don't want to hear it really, do your talking on the pitch.

Fraser: It is definitely alarming for any captain to say that. For Virgil, it is shocking, he should know better. No matter how bad you're playing or how bad the result is going, you should never give up. Unfortunately, this attitude comes from the top and I do think Slot has allowed standards to slip. We are Liverpool, we should never throw in the towel that easily, even if we don't win. We miss leaders like Henderson or Milner, they would always urge us to fight on and take responsibility. Jurgen Klopp would certainly never tolerate that attitude.

Sean: Van Dijk admitting that the side gave up against Man City sums up his lack of leadership. Can you imagine James Milner or Jordan Henderson in this team? They would not have stood back and watched a Liverpool team "give up".

Michael: I have been a Liverpool fan for 73 years and I was disgusted by the way we capitulated against City. Slot is useless and the sooner he leaves the better for the club.

Neil: In my opinion it suggests that the players have no confidence in the manager.

Heather: VVD was spot on. Once that penalty was scored they gave up. Up to that point they were playing OK. Something needs to change.

Virgil van Dijk's comments on Liverpool giving up in defeat at Manchester City were a cause for "alarm bells" according to the team on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

Former Everton defender Phil Jagielka said: "You can't as that person who represents the club, you can't protect your players at that moment in time. Everyone has seen the game. You can't trick people.

"How he has said it may not be the best way but he is letting the fans know that they all know they've underperformed and let them down."

The Observer's Rory Smith said: "I find it strange it's happened so often in such similar ways and they seem unable to work out how to solve it."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton said: "As soon as you go down the attitude - we gave up route - I think that is alarm bells ringing."

Jagielka replied: "It's the worst thing he could have said, I do think that."

Do you have a problem with what Van Dijk said? Tell us here

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Liverpool are on red alert with Real Madrid now open to selling France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, 23, who is a long-term target for the Reds. (L'Equipe - in French, external)

Arsenal have the edge over Liverpool in the pursuit for RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, 19. (Caught Offside, external)

Meanwhile Liverpool and Manchester United have stepped up their interest in Monaco and France winger Maghnes Akliouche, 24. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's Spirit of Shankly Supporters Union has warned the club's owners of upcoming protests over increases in ticket prices.

The Reds have confirmed ticket-price hikes, external linked to inflation for each of the next three seasons. In sharing this information with fans, the club pointed to operating costs for matches rising 85% since 2016-17 and "continued rises in the cost of football operations in general".

Spirit of Shankly have called on fans not to spend money inside Anfield on matchdays and to withhold renewing season tickets until near the 25 May deadline.

"This is no longer about consultation," a statement from the group said., external "That opportunity has been and gone. This is about action.

"Supporter groups are already organising a coordinated response. We are doing so at speed because time is against us. But the direction is clear: protests will take place.

"If the club does not value supporter voices, we will make ourselves difficult to ignore.

"The Supporters' Board has formally informed the club that action is coming. Now it is on all of us to back it.

"Protests inside and outside Anfield have been discussed. It is agreed they need to happen.

"This will not be limited to one game. Action will take place across home and away fixtures, starting with Fulham at Anfield and escalating from there.

"Details to follow. But the key point is simple: this will grow and escalate.

"This isn't just about price. It's about direction.

"It's about what kind of football club Liverpool chooses to be. One rooted in its people, or one that sees them as a revenue stream to be pushed year after year.

"Future supporters will live with the consequences of what happens now."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup game between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Manchester City fans

Gene: Overall fine performance against a team that looks like a shell of its former self, especially defensively. Haaland needed a game like this to help get back in a groove. Statistically, this was an even match, but the individual battles were weighted towards City, which was evident during the game.

Terry: Super after the first 20 minutes. Happy for Haaland, shut the moaners up about how good he is for City.

Heather: Never doubt this team. They have had their ups and downs this season. Yet when it comes to this time in the football calendar, they know how to get the job done. Great result.

Stephen: One word sums it up - superb!

Liverpool fans

Omedo: For how long should we endure the pain? With all due respect, Slot's time to leave Liverpool is long overdue. The owners should have mercy and save ardent Liverpool supporters from further agony.

Zahid: Poor, not good enough. At this point, what are we doing? Van Dijk barely knows how to defend and we still don't invest in a January signing for this season. Don't see us going anywhere this season.

Seth: Awful performance. Missed our chances and gifted them several soft goals. Salah is a Liverpool legend but his best days are behind him, it really was a day to forget for him. Defensively, we are all over the place. VVD and Konate far below the levels they have set in past seasons. We are very vulnerable. Sadly, this season will be a huge disappointment. We won't win the Champions League, nor will we finish in the top five. Slot's time is rapidly running out, just like his ideas. He needs to go. Slot out.

Russell: Absolutely shocking. The PSG game could be embarrassing. Slot needs to go.