Liverpool travel to Paris as they take on the current Champions League holders, Paris Saint-Germain. Former Reds forward John Aldridge admits recent games have left him fearing the worst.
The Reds face the daunting task of toppling the current holders, Paris Saint-Germain, at the Parc des Princes.
While a trip to Paris usually sparks dreams of European glory, John Aldridge believes Liverpool’s recent defensive fragilities and a looming disciplinary crisis have tipped the scales firmly in favour of the Parisians.
Aldridge pointed toward Liverpool’s recent domestic form as the primary cause for concern, citing a lack of “killer instinct” in both boxes that could be fatal against the European champions.
In the Liverpool Echo, he said, “I should be looking forward to PSG tie, but Liverpool’s performances mean I’m dreading it.”
Arne Slot’s side were left battered and bruised after they lost 4-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarterfinal this past weekend.
They will look to bounce back immediately, but they have already been in similar situations this campaign, and they have failed to respond positively on a handful of occasions, leading to these fears.
Aldridge’s damning assessment
The Reds faced PSG in last year’s Champions League Round of 16, which wasn’t the easiest watch for the travelling Kop.
Slot’s side came away with the advantage in the tie, with a late goal from Harvey Elliott, but without Alisson’s heroics, it could have been a very different story.
Last February, Slot’s side were much better as they cruised on their way to the Premier League title, while Luis Enrique’s side have only advanced, which has left Aldridge concerned.
“I am dreading the PSG game because of how feeble Liverpool were at City at the weekend, when they were well beaten and showed so little fight.”
This will be the club’s last remaining chance of silverware this season, but the odds are stacked against them.
The 67-year-old hopes they can be inspired by stories of the past, but the current squad is showing something unfamiliar on Merseyside.
“Liverpool must find a way to use their underdog status to help them on the night. If they can keep themselves in the tie, they still give themselves a chance of making the second leg another special night.”
He continued.
“But let’s face it, the players have shown they struggle to handle adversity, and that is something we are not used to generally at this football club.”
In the fallout from their defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side, club captain Virgil Van Dijk confessed they gave up, which has angered the fanbase.
Liverpool’s campaign struggles
This won’t be the first time sections of the fanbase are ‘dreading’ a game under Slot this season.
Towards the beginning of the season, there was hope that the defeat at Selhurst Park wouldn’t derail their Premier League title dreams, but they won just one league game two months on from the Crystal Palace game. During that period, they lost to rivals Manchester United at Anfield for the first time since 2016.
As the new year came around, Slot’s side were picking up points, in their push for Champions League football, but defeats to Bournemouth and Wolves and a draw to Burnley at home limited their momentum.
In their last four games, they have drawn to a Tottenham side lingering with relegation, lost away at Brighton and have been knocked out of the FA Cup.
The fans’ frustration is growing, and they are becoming less lenient with the players and the manager for the catastrophic campaign they have endured.
The chance to watch Liverpool games almost feels like a chore, and the memories of last year’s game at the Parc des Princes linger in the minds of every supporter.
Aldridge’s sense of apprehension is becoming a collective feeling amongst fans, and while the club have thrived as underdogs in the past, recent history has taught us the French side could be a step too far for Slot’s squad.
