Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted defender Trent Alexander-Arnold faced notable “difficulties” against PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, following the Reds’ dramatic 1-0 victory in the Champions League round-of-16 first leg.
Slot openly recognized Alexander-Arnold’s challenging evening, acknowledging the full-back had been outplayed several times.
Despite securing a crucial away win, courtesy of Harvey Elliott’s late goal in the 87th minute, the real hero for Liverpool was goalkeeper Alisson. The Brazilian stopper produced an extraordinary performance, making a personal record nine saves to deny Paris Saint-Germain, leaving manager Luis Enrique frustrated by the outcome.
Slot emphasized that individual stats can be misleading, drawing parallels with previous challenging matches, such as the away game against Manchester City. He pointed out Alexander-Arnold had struggled occasionally but insisted that defensive lapses did not directly translate into conceding significant opportunities.
Most PSG threats originated from their Georgian star Kvaratskhelia, whose explosive pace and skill constantly challenged Alexander-Arnold. However, Slot defended his defender’s overall performance, particularly highlighting improvements seen during the second half when Liverpool tightened up defensively.
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When asked about the rumored transfer interest in Kvaratskhelia, who joined PSG in January for a fee of around £59 million (€70m), Slot quickly dismissed speculation. He humorously criticized exaggerated English media narratives, emphasizing the impracticality of Liverpool pursuing every available talent linked to them.
Slot praised Kvaratskhelia’s undeniable talent, referring to his impressive spell under Luciano Spalletti at Napoli during the 2022/23 season. He described the winger as a significant asset to PSG, highlighting the immense attacking threat posed by the French club’s dynamic forward line.
Speculation continues regarding Alexander-Arnold’s future, with Real Madrid closely monitoring the 26-year-old defender, whose Liverpool contract expires in just 117 days. Former Reds star Steve McManaman recently fueled these rumors by suggesting a potential move to Madrid would represent joining a “bigger club” and a more structured setup.
Lastly, new details emerged about Liverpool’s managerial decisions last summer. It was revealed Liverpool abandoned plans to appoint Ruben Amorim, now at Manchester United, due to significant financial concerns regarding squad management, estimated at around £400 million. This revelation adds further context to why Slot was ultimately selected to manage the Merseyside club.
