{"id":100534,"date":"2026-04-07T16:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/how-liverpool-can-challenge-psg-defensive-discipline-high-pressing-and-a-reliable-out-ball\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T16:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:34:14","slug":"how-liverpool-can-challenge-psg-defensive-discipline-high-pressing-and-a-reliable-out-ball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/how-liverpool-can-challenge-psg-defensive-discipline-high-pressing-and-a-reliable-out-ball\/","title":{"rendered":"How Liverpool can challenge PSG: Defensive discipline, high pressing and a reliable out-ball"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you were picking a match to play after losing 4-0 to Manchester City, it would not be a trip to France to face defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain.<\/p>\n

Yet that\u2019s the challenge for Arne Slot and his players as they aim to bounce back from this season\u2019s latest low and keep their hopes of winning the Champions League alive.<\/p>\n

Even if Liverpool were at the peak of their powers, a trip to the Parc des Princes would be laced with an element of trepidation due to the quality of the opposition. For supporters who have been watching this iteration of Liverpool, there is a fear of not just defeat on Wednesday but of another 90 minutes like they witnessed at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.<\/a><\/p>\n

Luis Enrique\u2019s team have already embarrassed one English club in the competition this season \u2014 knocking Chelsea out 8-2 on aggregate \u2014 so how can a Liverpool side devoid of confidence avoid a similar fate?<\/p>\n

Could last season offer any clues? Well, Slot\u2019s team were in much better shape when they travelled to France 13 months ago to face PSG in the Champions League round of 16. They walked away with a one-goal lead<\/a>, but there is no blueprint to replicate. It was a game that defined the phrase smash and grab (they were then eliminated following a penalty shootout after the second leg at Anfield).<\/p>\n

Harvey Elliott\u2019s 87th-minute winner in that first leg last year was only Liverpool\u2019s second shot of the contest (Slot\u2019s team\u2019s expected goals figure in the match was 0.27), and their first on target. Meanwhile, there were 27 efforts \u2014 totalling an xG of 1.78 \u2014 from PSG, nine of which were saved by Alisson. If the game this week follows a similar pattern, a different \u2014 and more painful \u2014 outcome is almost guaranteed.<\/p>\n

An important starting point would be not forgetting the basics \u2014 something that has been the concerning theme of this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not the story of the whole game, but every single time we forget to block a cross, we forget to defend in front of goal, we forget to follow a runner \u2014 every single time it\u2019s a goal,\u201d Slot told reporters during his post-match press conference after the loss to Manchester City.<\/p>\n

While the opening 35 minutes against Pep Guardiola\u2019s side offered encouragement that the 4-2-2-2 system could work by providing an attacking threat and a solid defensive base, the performance after they went behind was unacceptable.<\/p>\n

The three goals following Erling Haaland\u2019s penalty showcased Liverpool\u2019s passivity and, at times, apparent lack of desire<\/a>.<\/p>\n

City\u2019s second goal, which in effect ended the game, illustrated both. In the final minute of the half, Liverpool ceded possession from their own throw-in and lacked any aggression in attempting to halt City\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Florian Wirtz was over aggressive in his initial press and then lacked urgency to help balance out City\u2019s right-side overload, while neither Curtis Jones or Ryan Gravenberch drifted across. Milos Kerkez, who deserves sympathy for being left three-on-one, and Virgil van Dijk lacked aggression and Ibrahima Konate was beaten by Haaland\u2019s movement.<\/p>\n

The third, again from their own throw-in, saw Joe Gomez give the ball straight to Marc Guehi. Liverpool were slow to react to the quick turnover of possession and their counter-press began too late. Gravenberch stepped out, leaving space for Rayan Cherki to receive possession and slide in Antoine Semenyo.<\/p>\n

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Seven minutes later and City had their fourth when Nico O\u2019Reilly squared for Haaland to tap in for his hat-trick. During the build-up, O\u2019Reilly ran past Dominik Szoboszlai and Gomez. Jeremy Doku\u2019s pass between Konate and Gomez to find the youngster was clever but preventable.<\/p>\n

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It is that defensive discipline that has so frequently been missing across a 90-minute performance from Liverpool. The mindset is unbalanced, with too many players thinking about attacking play rather than anticipating danger. Untracked third-man runs cost them against Guardiola\u2019s side and coming up against a quicker, more fluid PSG attack will only ask further questions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fighting spirit wasn\u2019t there enough, the mentality wasn\u2019t there enough,\u201d Szoboszlai told Hungarian media outlet Spiler TV post-match. \u201cNone of us were there, to be honest, as much as we could.\u201d<\/p>\n