Arne Slot suggests PSG will dread Champions League showdown

PSG squeezed by Slot's team on spot kicks en route to securing the trophy for the initial occasion in the knockout phase last term.

Liverpool had been soaring atop the Premier League during their previous encounter, yet they have faced a tougher second year with Slot in charge.

The Merseyside outfit occupies fourth spot in the domestic elite division and needed to overturn a deficit versus Galatasaray following a 1-0 defeat in the opening fixture in Istanbul.

Nonetheless, the result seemed assured shortly after Dominik Szoboszlai equalised the aggregate on the 25 minute mark at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch, and Mohamed Salah all found the net in the latter period, although Salah fluffed a spot kick while Liverpool bounced back strongly from the jeers they received post their 1-1 stalemate with lowly Tottenham on Sunday.

"They have maintained their high level. It was tough for them to get better, yet they have remained outstanding so far," Slot commented regarding the clash with the Ligue 1 title holders.

"However, following this match, I reckon they will not relish facing us again."

Liverpool claimed a 1-0 victory at the Parc des Princes the prior campaign, defying the flow of the game entirely.

Yet this time around, the scenario flipped as PSG prevailed 1-0 at Anfield even though Liverpool showed marked progress in the return leg.

"We got totally dominated on the road. We delivered a solid performance here at Anfield, but ultimately fell short on penalties," Slot elaborated.

Slot's choice to bench several vital squad members at the outset against Tottenham over the weekend proved wise.

Salah returned to the XI and bagged his 50th goal in Europe's premier club competition, rebounding from the setback of squandering the penalty and squandering multiple prime opportunities.

"This highlights his character strongly. He blazed over from the spot right before the break, which was naturally tough since leading 1-0 at half time felt absurd given the game's pattern up to that point," Slot noted.

"Then to emerge after the interval and play that way. An excellent pass to Hugo, and his strike was classic Salah."