Liverpool won 4-0 to overturn first-leg deficit
‘This performance gives me confidence’
Arne Slot said Liverpool’s emphatic comeback against Galatasaray should inspire confidence for their Champions League reunion with Paris Saint-Germain and set a standard for the rest of the season.
Liverpool comfortably overturned a 1-0 first‑leg deficit to set up a quarter-final against PSG, who beat Slot’s team on penalties in the last 16 last season en route to winning the Champions League for the first time. As was the case last season, the first leg will be at Parc des Princes with the return at Anfield.
“When you get to the latter stages of the Champions League you know you will face PSG, they are an incredible team,” Slot said. “We experienced that last season when we faced them away from home in a very difficult game. Here at Anfield we played a fantastic game.
“I’ve said many times that it was the best game I’ve managed in my career, even though we lost, in terms of how it was played with both teams playing football the way it should be played and wanting to entertain the fans. We were the only team to take them to extra time and penalties last season and this performance tonight gives me confidence we can have this performance again.”
Mohamed Salah missed a penalty but became the first player from Africa to score 50 Champions League goals when capping a fine second‑half display with a superb finish. However, he later asked to be substituted with an injury concern and will be assessed before Saturday’s game at Brighton.
Slot said: “It says a lot about him that after he missed a penalty just before half-time, that can sometimes be hard for an individual and for a team, Mo and the team came out in the second half the way they did. He assisted Hugo [Ekitike], a great assist, and scored a trademark goal that he has scored so many times in this stadium and for this club, cutting inside, finding the top corner.
“That tells you a lot about his mental strength but definitely also of the team, because adversity is something we can definitely talk about in this season.”
