Is a season without any trophies the worst outcome for Liverpool?

Written by Han Bing A 0-2 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain led to a double loss, and the Anfield miracle hoped for by some optimistic Liverpool fans did not happen again. Although the team's performance was their best in recent times, lasting 72 minutes in the pouring rain, when the referee blew the final whistle, the outcome remained routine: PSG, with Dembélé's brace, made Liverpool's already destined season of no trophies truly come to pass. After exiting the Champions League, Liverpool's sole remaining season goal is to secure a Champions League spot for next season. However, the injury to their top scorer Ekitić makes even that goal questionable...

Following their exit from the FA Cup quarter-finals, Slot's Liverpool was eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals with the same scoreline. The record investment of 483 million euros in the summer transfer window last year has yielded a season without any trophies. Regarding this match, it might not bring Slot closer to being sacked, but the collapse of the last hope for a trophy will strip the Dutch coach of his final chance to salvage the season.

Anfield was once Liverpool's miracle home ground full of hope. In the 2019 Champions League semi-final, after a 0-3 away loss to Barcelona in the first leg, Liverpool staged a 4-0 comeback at home in the second leg to reach the final and ultimately win the trophy. But past miracles do not represent the present. After a dismal season, one shouldn't assign a task that management, coaches, and players couldn't accomplish to a stadium and nearly 60,000 rain-soaked cheering spectators.

In last season's Champions League quarter-final second leg, PSG already defeated Liverpool 1-0 here, dragging the match into a penalty shootout victory. This year Liverpool displayed their best performance in recent weeks, applying greater pressure on PSG's defense. If Kerkez's shot in the 33rd minute hadn't been brilliantly saved by Safonov, and Van Dijk's follow-up hadn't been blocked by Marquinhos, Liverpool might have seen hope for a turnaround. But before that, Mamardashvili barely managed to parry Dembélé's lob; luck was fair to both sides.

The real blow came in the 28th minute with Ekitić's injury; he was the most active player early in the match. The French forward tried three times to stand up but couldn't, eventually being carried off on a stretcher. Liverpool's slight glimmer of turnaround hope was completely erased. Ekitić and Isak, two high-priced strikers totaling 240 million euros in transfer fees, have only started together three times this season. Adding Wirtz, three stars with combined transfer fees of 365 million euros have collaborated for just 117 minutes so far. Moreover, along with Kerkez and Frimpong, five expensive new signings started together for the first time this season in this match. Perhaps this says everything.

With Ekitić injured, fans' hopes fell on Salah who came on as a substitute. Although occasionally showing brilliance, more often the Egyptian star only proved that Slot's decision to bench him was justified.

Before Dembélé's goal in the 72nd minute, Liverpool displayed the passion, creativity, and courage they could muster this season, but the Champions League defending champion's defense was as solid as their attack. In the 64th minute, Mac Allister was fouled from behind by Pacho in the box; referee Mariani awarded a penalty, but VAR intervention overturned it. Dembélé's goal showcased PSG's remarkable decisiveness and efficiency, precisely what Liverpool lacked throughout the season.

During stoppage time, Dembélé scored his second, with Liverpool's defense appearing nonexistent, completely ending any suspense. This might be too cruel for Liverpool; at Anfield at least the home team deserved a draw, yet the result was another defeat. Anfield gave its utmost, but ultimately it couldn't enable a team in poor form and lacking luck to defeat the Champions League winner. Seven years ago, Barcelona underestimated Liverpool after a 0-3 deficit and were overwhelmed by the hosts' intensity at Anfield, but Enrique's PSG withstanded the pressure and seized crucial opportunities.

After the match, Slot's confident statement that "few teams can dominate against PSG and create so many chances" inevitably recalls a certain Dutch predecessor, but this night at Anfield both goals belonged to PSG, and victory always belongs to the team that capitalizes on opportunities.

Liverpool supporters are furious over Slot's puzzling tactics that exhaust the troops. Liverpool legends Fowler and Carragher both questioned Slot's starting lineup and in-game substitutions: replacing defender Frimpong with defender Gomez at halftime, then substituting forward Nkunku for Gomez 20 minutes later—such criticism has actually persisted throughout the season.

Compared to the already slim hopes of a Champions League comeback before the match, a greater blow comes from the serious injury to their top scorer—British media widely speculate he likely suffered an Achilles tear or rupture, at least ending his season, possibly missing up to nine months. This season Ekitić played 28 Premier League matches for Liverpool, contributing 11 goals and 4 assists as the team's top scorer; his goal tally nearly equals the combined total of Salah and Gakpo behind him (12 goals). In matches where Ekitić contributed to goals, Liverpool gained as many as 16 points. If he misses the remainder of the season, the impact on Liverpool's attack would be devastating.

Although the Premier League has six rounds left, Liverpool rank 5th, leading Chelsea in 6th place by 4 points. But Liverpool's upcoming schedule is tough: this weekend is the away Merseyside derby, followed by away matches against 3rd-place Manchester United and 4th-place Aston Villa, plus the crucial home match against their main rival for fifth place, Chelsea. Isak just recovered from injury and his form is uncertain, worsening Liverpool's already low offensive efficiency. Slot's position is already precarious in a trophy-less season; if they ultimately miss next season's Champions League, his fate will be equally certain.