Top News

It's time for Arne Slot to take a bold approach. Liverpool’s under-pressure manager must give Rio Ngumoha and Mohamed Salah full freedom when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League tie.

Liverpool remain alive in this season’s Champions League, though how they’ve managed it is anyone’s guess. Slot’s men were completely outplayed by Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg but somehow escaped the Parc des Princes with only a 2-0 defeat — a result Jamie Carragher described as “great” for the visitors, given the huge difference in confidence and quality between the two sides.

Still, many feel that Liverpool’s reprieve in Paris was temporary. PSG are unlikely to be as wasteful at Anfield on Tuesday, and Luis Enrique’s players won’t be intimidated by the venue, having triumphed in a shootout there last season.

However, all hope isn’t lost for Liverpool. Their defensive weaknesses continue to be a major concern, but they have more than enough attacking talent to trouble the reigning European champions. For Liverpool to pull off another famous comeback at Anfield, Slot must show courage and make full use of the attacking weapons at his disposal.

Slot’s tactical surrender

Slot has passionately defended his tactical choices from last Wednesday, but the reality is that Liverpool were humbled in Paris for showing little to no attacking intent. His decision to play a five-man defence for the first time since taking over 18 months ago backfired badly.

Even Virgil van Dijk appeared unsettled as Liverpool’s backline struggled to cope with PSG’s fluid and unpredictable attack, which constantly dragged defenders out of position.

Florian Wirtz tried to create moments of control when in possession, but Liverpool barely saw the ball — completing just 190 passes compared to PSG’s 685. They managed only nine touches inside PSG’s penalty area and failed to create a single clear scoring opportunity. It was a timid display that reflected Slot’s overly cautious instructions to sit deep and waste time on set-pieces to avoid a heavy loss.

That approach simply won’t work at Anfield. The fans wouldn’t tolerate it, and Slot himself knows he has no option now but to attack. That starts with bringing two key players off the bench and into the starting lineup.

Salah must start

There was a case for benching Mohamed Salah in the first leg. The Egyptian has struggled for form this season and looked devoid of confidence during the FA Cup quarter-final loss to Manchester City.

Yet, as recent months have shown, leaving Salah out doesn’t help; it only worsens Liverpool’s problems by removing one of their most threatening attackers.

Despite his inconsistencies, Salah has been directly involved in 20 goals across all competitions and played a crucial role in the 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the previous round.

There is no better option for the right wing. While that might highlight Liverpool’s recruitment issues more than Salah’s brilliance, the 33-year-old reminded everyone of his finishing ability with a classy first-time strike against Fulham — a timely boost before arguably his most important remaining match for the club.

Regardless of any tension between Slot and Salah, the manager must give his star forward the stage to add another glorious chapter to his Liverpool legacy.

Even if PSG’s Nuno Mendes has previously managed to contain Salah, starting Liverpool’s third-highest scorer ever would still force the Portuguese full-back to think twice about attacking freely — easing pressure on Liverpool’s right-back.

Frimpong’s speed is essential

One of Slot’s toughest decisions before facing PSG is whether to start Joe Gomez or Jeremie Frimpong. Both featured in the first leg, but with Liverpool expected to revert to a back four, one will likely miss out.

Gomez would be the safer choice — a solid defender when fit, though not particularly effective going forward, aside from his long throws.

If Gomez plays, it should be as Van Dijk’s partner in central defence, replacing the error-prone Ibrahima Konate, who was fortunate not to concede two penalties in Paris.

Frimpong, meanwhile, can be caught out defensively and sometimes frustrates with his final ball, but he’s easily the fastest player in a relatively slow Liverpool squad. His pace would help deal with Desire Doue’s threat while offering crucial support for Salah on overlaps.

The two haven’t played much together this season due to injuries, but they combined well against Fulham — and Frimpong created more chances (three) than anyone else on the pitch.

Simply put, Liverpool need Frimpong’s pace against PSG’s lightning-quick wide attackers.

Experience versus energy

When Milos Kerkez stayed on the bench against Fulham, it was assumed he was being rested for PSG. That reasoning makes sense, as questions remain about his ability to play three times in a week.

However, Slot could stick with Andy Robertson at left-back. The Scot looked rejuvenated against Fulham, contributing both defensively and offensively with trademark energy.

Robertson’s composure and experience may prove invaluable in a high-pressure encounter, whereas Kerkez’s eagerness could lead to rash decisions.

Crucially, Rio Ngumoha might benefit more from having Robertson supporting him instead of the unpredictable but energetic Kerkez — and Slot’s priority should be to maximise the teenager’s impact.

Liverpool need Ngumoha

Slot’s cautious handling of Ngumoha this season is understandable. The modern game’s intensity demands care with young talents to avoid burnout. But since his electrifying cameo at Nottingham Forest in February, it’s been evident Liverpool need him.

With Salah ageing and Luis Diaz now at Bayern Munich, the 17-year-old has become Liverpool’s most dangerous dribbler — fearless, direct, and relentlessly attacking.

“He has a special quality that’s rare these days: dominating one-on-one duels,” Slot said on Saturday. “That’s exactly what he did for his goal — twisting, turning, and finishing like Mo Salah would.”

Ngumoha’s superb solo goal not only drew comparisons to a young Raheem Sterling but also made him Liverpool’s youngest ever Premier League scorer at Anfield, seemingly convincing Slot he’s ready for PSG.

“I think he’s ready,” Slot added. “The question now is whether he can do it again two days later. But yes, he’s no longer just a young player gaining experience — he’s someone I can pick for any game, including Tuesday.”

There are alternatives. With Hugo Ekitike expected to start up front, Cody Gakpo could shift to the left. However, the Dutchman hasn’t done enough this season to earn a place against PSG.

There’s even a case for Ekitike to move wide, with Alexander Isak leading the line, though Isak is more likely to come off the bench due to limited game time.

Game-changer potential

Slot may instead deploy Wirtz on the left, keeping Szoboszlai in the No.10 role behind Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch to maintain midfield balance against PSG’s formidable unit.

But Liverpool must also be bold. Wirtz operates best centrally, and alongside Ngumoha on the left, the duo could cause serious problems for PSG.

Wirtz’s creativity was key in the buildup to Ngumoha’s goal against Fulham, and their chemistry could prove decisive at Anfield.

These two rising stars must be given maximum opportunity to impact the game — because to beat PSG, Liverpool will need to throw everything forward.

This is no time for caution. Liverpool must play at full throttle from the first whistle, even if it means sacrificing some of Slot’s preferred control to revive the chaos once embraced by Jurgen Klopp.

Including Ngumoha could spark that unpredictability. He’s Liverpool’s wild card — a fearless teenager capable of lifting the entire stadium’s mood. As Steve Nicol said after the Fulham win, in a season short on positives, “Ngumoha is a positive. He scares defenders.” Slot now needs to trust him to do just that on Tuesday night.