Stick or sack? Slot’s Liverpool future dominates UCL speaking factors

The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals kicked off this week, and with it got here loads of drama to unpack, so let’s assessment.

On Tuesday, Arsenal muddled their method to a 1-0 win at Sporting CP because of an injury-time aim, whereas Actual Madrid and Bayern Munich traded punches and pictures for 90 minutes, albeit with the Bavarian facet holding a 2-1 first-leg result in take again with them to the Allianz Enviornment.

On Wednesday evening, Barcelona succumbed to Diego Simeone’s entice and misplaced 2-0 at dwelling, with Pedri coming off injured (or was it a precaution?) and defender Pau Cubarsí receiving a purple card late within the first half. In the meantime in France, Paris Saint-Germain had umpteen probabilities to decimate a wobbly Liverpool workforce low on confidence and type, however needed to accept a 2-0 first-leg lead forward of the return at Anfield subsequent week.

So, what to make of all of it? ESPN FC writers Mark Ogden, Gab Marcotti, Julien Laurens and Sam Tighe are right here to interrupt down the motion because it occurred and sit up for subsequent week’s second legs.

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– Kirkland: Actual Madrid imagine they will beat Bayern. Are they proper?
– Ogden: Wasteful PSG depart door open for Liverpool in UCL
– VAR Assessment: Was Cubarsi’s purple card deserved?

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Q1. Does PSG’s 2-0 win over Liverpool say extra in regards to the Parisians or Arne Slot? The Reds tried a drastic formation change and created nothing, with the complete factor seeming prefer it was only a matter of time till Luis Enrique’s facet blew the doorways off the guests’ determined rearguard. It would properly be the worst Liverpool efficiency beneath Slot, too …

Tighe: Realistically, Liverpool felt doomed on this match earlier than a ball was kicked. A workforce this fragile, this flawed and this leaky late on in video games can’t be anticipated to go to the Parc des Princes and pull out a consequence. Slot appeared acutely conscious that the standard plan wouldn’t work, so he modified it up and fielded three heart backs in a 5-2-1-2-esque form.

It appeared just like the intention was to stop PSG fully taking up through the use of vast combos whereas utilising Dominik Szoboszlai‘s power in assist of the assault, however the consequence of the form change was that Vitinha and Co. had on a regular basis on the planet to run the sport from central positions, the place Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister severely toiled. I am undecided we discovered something in regards to the Reds (besides that Alexander Isak is match once more), however we did have it confirmed that PSG, the reigning European champions, are buzzing at simply the appropriate time of the season.

Marcotti: We are able to hold blaming Slot for every little thing and positive, making an attempt to shock PSG with a formation you have by no means performed or educated earlier than appears foolish with the good thing about hindsight. However what is the various? Doing nothing, making an attempt to play them straight up and getting hammered? They did that at Manchester Metropolis within the FA Cup just some days in the past.

The primary difficulty I’ve with Slot is ready till 12 minutes from time after which making a quadruple substitution (and not one of the subs being Mohamed Salah). After which being fortunate the ultimate rating was 2-0, reasonably than being 4 or 5 down. Will we wish to blame him for the truth that Liverpool’s first shot on aim of any variety got here 4 minutes into the second half? OK, tremendous. Go forward that is all his fault too and never right down to the recruitment. The very fact of the matter is that Liverpool are nonetheless on this tie at 2-0 down, so he can grasp his hat on that. He is probably not a genius however making this all about him and his shortcomings is not truthful.

Ogden: Liverpool are completely nonetheless on this tie and Luis Enrique must be livid about that. He appeared fairly relaxed about it throughout his postmatch information convention, however PSG ought to have received by 5 or 6 and their failure to take action would possibly come again to hang-out them at Anfield. PSG had been so dominant that they began with the tips and the flicks and that is why Luis Enrique must be indignant along with his gamers. Simply get the job carried out after which mess around.

Possibly the PSG boss’ sanguine response was as a result of he is aware of that this Liverpool facet are starting to stink the place out and a bunch of gamers who carry out so poorly are unlikely to flick a change and switch it on a lot that they salvage the tie at Anfield. Slot tried a brand new formation as a result of he has no legs in midfield and his forwards do not work exhausting sufficient. It did not work in Paris and Liverpool are unlikely to show it round subsequent week, however they nonetheless have an opportunity and that is just about all Slot hoped for.

Laurens: PSG did what they’ve been doing at their greatest for over a 12 months now. So, we’ve to take a look at Slot and the mess that he made once more on Wednesday. His again 5 was complete nonsense, he inspired his workforce to only defend (solely three pictures, none on track and 0.18xG) and the gamers — who’ve been poor all season lengthy (and that is not simply on Slot) — seemed misplaced.

Talking of misplaced, feels to me that Slot has misplaced the workforce. Have a look at the expressions of Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai after they had been subbed off. Have a look at Salah’s face on the bench as soon as he realised he was not approaching. The problems on the membership are extra than simply the supervisor, however he isn’t serving to himself or his workforce both. He has been struggling all season to seek out the appropriate formulation to repair the Reds’ points, and he has didn’t discover a resolution thus far. Liverpool ought to have misplaced 5-0 in Paris and had been fortunate to flee with a lesser scoreline. That is not Liverpool we all know.

Q2. Actual Madrid and Bayern provided up an entertaining first leg that noticed 40 mixed pictures and 4.96 xG between the 2 sides. In the long run, was it the goalkeeping that made the distinction? Manuel Neuer actually turned again the clock with a surprising efficiency to disclaim Kylian Mbappé time and time once more, whereas Andriy Lunin arguably may have carried out higher. Or was it one thing else?

Laurens: We have now identified for the reason that begin of the season that Actual Madrid needed to keep away from two particular gamers getting severely injured due to how dropping both or each may derail their season. The primary one was Mbappé, and the second was Thibaut Courtois. With out the Frenchman, the Merengues did handle to remain on monitor, however not having the Belgian for a sport of this magnitude was a large blow, and Madrid paid for it.

Lunin is an efficient backup keeper, however he is not adequate to win you video games (or forestall you from dropping) like Neuer will be — and like he was on Tuesday evening on the Bernabéu. Courtois would possible not have conceded Harry Kane‘s aim, and it is truthful to say he definitely would have made the hosts’ defence stronger. For Neuer, at 40, it is one other proof that he is likely one of the biggest keepers of all time. SC Freiburg within the Bundesliga does not curiosity him a lot anymore. Give him Actual Madrid beneath the lights within the Champions League and he’s your man!

Marcotti: The goalkeeping was an enormous a part of the story, positive. Juls is correct: there is no manner Courtois concedes that aim to Kane, whereas two of the three saves Neuer made off Mbappé had been actually particular. Even in case you’re not a Neuer fan, it’s a must to admire that given his accidents, given he is now 40 and given what occurred final time he performed on the Bernabéu, when Joselu scored twice.

That stated, I feel an equally greater a part of the story is Bayern’s failure to hold on to a two-goal lead. They completely battered Actual Madrid within the first half and, I feel, ought to have been greater than only a aim up. Then, at 2-0, with the followers freaking out and Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa making tweaks, it’s a must to see the sport out. There’s an enormous distinction in getting back from two objectives down on the highway in comparison with one aim. You may’t hand over that many probabilities. The one mitigating issue, I suppose, is the Bernabéu and the outdated trope by which era appears to magically flip extra slowly when Actual Madrid want to return from behind. However that is Bayern, certainly “stage fright” should not be a factor?

Ogden: I feel Neuer reminded us all within the Bernabéu that it actually issues to have a world-class goalkeeper. Madrid had been with out theirs and ended up on the dropping facet, largely due to Neuer’s heroics and Lunin’s much less inspiring efficiency. And who is aware of? Possibly PSG will miss out on back-to-back Champions League triumphs as a result of they offloaded Gianluigi Donnarumma and ended up with two keepers who aren’t nearly as good because the Italy No. 1, even in case you put them each in aim on the similar time.

There is no doubt that Neuer has given Bayern an enormous benefit going into the second leg, however it’s nonetheless too near name. If Actual flip up with Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham on their sport subsequent week, they will simply flip this tie round and make it to the semifinals. Possibly it’s going to come right down to which goalkeeper performs greatest once more.

Tighe: I am glad you talked about Bayern’s dominance on the evening, Gab. If you happen to missed the sport and judged it by both the spotlight reel or the stats sheet — the place Madrid equalled Bayern’s 20 pictures, obtained another (9) on track and created another huge probability (4) — you’d suppose this was an excellent sport. For essentially the most half, it was not.

However these final quarter-hour — that felt like anybody’s sport. It is maybe not that Bayern couldn’t management proceedings and extra that they did not appear fascinated with doing so, or that Bellingham made such a distinction in midfield that Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic abruptly could not cope. That is when Neuer turned particularly essential.

It looks like a ropey tactic given the 40-year-old’s type has been severely detached this time period — not like, say, that of Courtois, whom you may really feel comfy leaning on. However it appears to be like like this Bayern workforce are going to assault, assault, assault their method to tried Champions League glory, so Neuer would possibly want a couple of extra huge nights but.

Q3. Arsenal wobbled once more Tuesday evening in Lisbon, placing up subpar attacking stats and taking a slim 1-0 first leg lead again to the Emirates because of Kai Havertz‘s injury-time aim. It wasn’t a traditional match, however David Raya (persevering with the goalkeeper theme) and Mikel Arteta’s subs modified the sport. Can we nonetheless think about Arsenal a favourite on this competitors contemplating their underwhelming play of late?

Marcotti: You stated a favourite, proper? Contemplating they’re 1-0 up earlier than the house leg, which bodes properly for the semifinal, positive, it’s a must to say they are a favourite, however I feel — and never for the primary time — that we have seen Arsenal’s limits in opposition to well-organized opponents. Solidity, depth and set-pieces solely take you thus far.

In opposition to Sporting, they missed Bukayo Saka and the “actual” Martin Ødegaard, however neither has been an enormous contributor this 12 months. Accidents are part of it, however I feel there’s additionally a aware alternative in taking a extra defensive method from Arteta that has hampered their output. Possibly it was the appropriate alternative when it comes to giving Arsenal the very best shot to win the Premier League, however in a two-legged format deep within the Champions League, it will possibly restrict what you do.

As for Raya, he is been immense many of the season. I think about most individuals could have Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice or William Saliba forward of him as Arsenal’s Participant of the 12 months, however Raya must be proper up there.

Laurens: I am undecided why persons are shocked or disenchanted by the present degree and elegance of this Arsenal facet. Their id shouldn’t be free-flowing, attacking soccer. They’re able to nice performances and have carried out so many occasions this season (in opposition to Bayern, for instance), however if you end up with out 4 starters (Saka, Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapié, Jurriën Timber), it is more durable. Arsenal, nevertheless, are additionally a workforce drilled for management; they’re arguably the perfect workforce tactically on the planet proper now, essentially the most bodily facet, and the strongest workforce out of possession — the place construction comes first, earlier than any rotations or permutations. That is why they’re so good.

So in fact they’re nonetheless a favourite to win this competitors. No person would wish to face them within the subsequent spherical, particularly as they’re assured to play the semifinal second leg at dwelling in the event that they qualify.

Ogden: Arsenal are nonetheless a favourite due to the best way they play. In opposition to Sporting, though the house facet performed the perfect soccer, created the higher patterns and had the perfect probabilities, it was Arsenal who dominated each bodily ingredient of the sport. It is fairly miserable to look at at occasions as a result of there’s a actual probability that Arsenal may bully their method to Champions League glory and no one needs that, do they? OK, each Arsenal supporter needs that, however there isn’t any fantasy with this workforce. It is all about muscle.

I feel Juls goes a bit heavy with the reward, although: are they the perfect workforce tactically on the planet? I am not so positive about that, they usually do not management video games like PSG management them. However finally, the sport is about successful, and Arsenal have discovered a manner to do this persistently within the Champions League. They could meet their match in the event that they face Atlético within the semis — that will not be a sport for the purists — however Arsenal are what they’re and no one on the Emirates ought to apologise for that.

Tighe: Arsenal’s model (or lack of it, relying on who you speak to) does not change my opinion on their Champions League prospects. What does spook me a bit of is what appears to be like like a drop in confidence ranges. At this stage of the match, any workforce that is positioning themselves as a real favourite ought to really feel like they’re hitting high gear, enjoying with the utmost confidence in themselves and one another — regardless of how that appears stylistically.

Can we are saying Arsenal are hitting that temporary? I might argue no — or no less than not in the identical manner Bayern have discovered one other degree, or PSG appear to be clicking into gear. Very quickly there shall be simply 4 groups left and if Arsenal are one in every of them, it is possible they will be third, at greatest, in my mini rating of possible winners.

This autumn. Hansi Flick and Barça received each LaLiga video games in opposition to Atleti, however the cup competitions have proved far more the latter’s velocity as Flick’s insistence on all the time pushing for objectives performs into Diego Simeone’s strengths. Was the Cubarsi purple card legit? And can Atleti rue solely taking a 2-0 lead again dwelling with them to defend subsequent week?

Marcotti: No, I feel Simeone shall be pleased with the 2-0 all advised. However the attention-grabbing factor is how each coaches had been fairly counterintuitive at halftime. Cubarsi had simply been despatched off (and, sure, it was the proper choice in my opinion) and transferring Eric García (who was excellent, by the best way, not usually I say that) into the again made sense, however it was shocking to see Pedri come off for Gavi. (Fermín López for Robert Lewandowski was a no brainer).

Much more shocking was how Barcelona went for it, as in the event that they needed to get a consequence that very evening. Typical knowledge would have urged being extra conservative, maybe selecting some spots on the counter and trusting your self to show across the 1-0 deficit within the return leg. However Flick did issues his manner: Barça had 60% possession and 0.61 xG after the break, regardless of being a person down. His sport plan — aside from that Alexander Sørloth second — labored.

As for Atleti, they had been actually rattled by Barça’s press. The apparent factor would have been to go for it, to push not only for 2-0, however much more. As a substitute, they managed only a single shot. I suppose 2-0 is healthier than 1-0, however I might nonetheless be tremendous nervous for the return leg. At one level, Lamine Yamal dribbled previous eight opponents, which says rather a lot in regards to the evening he was having. Possibly that is why Atleti chickened out.

Tighe: Simeone dare not rue “solely” being 2-0 up on the midway level on this tie. In any case, his workforce took one solitary shot within the second half, regardless of enjoying in opposition to 10 males the complete time. They suffered out of possession and in opposition to the press regardless of the person benefit and customarily seemed the weaker facet in that second interval. Yamal’s efficiency was breathtaking at occasions, giving Michael Olise a correct run for his cash because the spherical’s greatest proper winger. Among the jinks into the field, dancing round one, two, three defenders, had been merely magnificent. Atleti felt lucky to return out having not conceded no less than as soon as to him alone.

This tie nonetheless feels very a lot alive to me — particularly when you think about Atlético shall be pressured to subject a patchwork defence within the second leg, given Marc Pubill is suspended, Dávid Hancko got here off injured and Jose Gimenez is perennially harm.

Ogden: Sorry Gab, however the Cubarsi purple card was a joke. Giuliano Simeone‘s flailing leg was designed to make contact with Cubarsi because the Barcelona participant approached him — he is not the primary Simeone to flick a leg out and get an opponent despatched off, however let’s not rage on about a purple card again in 1998 — and it ended up with a dismissal that completely the turned the sport in Atleti’s favour.

A 2-0 benefit is not at all a tie-winning lead, although, and Barcelona will virtually definitely rating a pair within the Metropolitano. The massive query is what number of they’ll concede and that, sadly, is the query that continues to hang-out Barça within the Champions League and why they in all probability will not win the competitors, even when they get via subsequent week.

Laurens: Flick stayed true to himself by wanting his workforce to maintain attacking. He’s not a conservative supervisor, so I do not actually perceive Gab’s level right here. Even with 10 males, Barcelona may solely hold enjoying and attacking. Why would they do something completely different? They might have come again within the sport. They simply obtained Simeone-ed by Atlético’s minimalist method within the second half regardless of enjoying with an additional participant.

Nonetheless, this tie shouldn’t be over. If Atlético can win 2-0 on the Camp Nou, Barcelona and Yamal may also win 2-0 on the Metropolitano. The second leg could possibly be epic, particularly contemplating, as Sam says, Atleti’s defensive points.