Steven Gerrard Criticises Liverpool as 'Toothless' After PSG Champions League Defeat
Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Parc des Princes, with former captain Steven Gerrard describing their performance as "toothless" in a damning post-match analysis.
PSG Secure Comfortable Advantage
Goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave the Champions League holders a commanding lead ahead of next week's return leg at Anfield. The Reds, under manager Arne Slot, failed to register a single shot on target throughout the match, highlighting their attacking struggles.
Gerrard, speaking on TNT Sports, pointed to PSG's "total domination" in the second half, noting that Liverpool were fortunate to escape with only a two-goal deficit. "PSG were more ruthless, certainly in the second half they had big chances... to go and kill the tie off," he said. "Liverpool getting out of here at 2-0 is okay, it's not fantastic but if any place can make a tie of this next week, it's Anfield."
Tactical Changes Fail to Deliver
Slot had switched Liverpool's formation to a three-centre-back system, with Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong operating as wingbacks, following their 4-0 loss to Manchester City last weekend. While this setup provided more defensive solidity around the penalty area, it stifled Liverpool's attacking flair, leaving them unable to create meaningful opportunities.
Gerrard emphasised that Liverpool's tactics worked defensively for large periods but lacked bite in the final third. "It was total domination tonight, Liverpool's tactics and gameplan worked for large periods of the game but they didn't have anything up top. They were quite toothless and didn't create anything," he explained.
Pundits Question Liverpool's Prospects
Fellow pundit and former Liverpool star Steve McManaman offered a similarly critical assessment, suggesting PSG could have won by a larger margin. "It's an easy game to analyse. Weirdly enough, PSG weren't ruthless enough tonight. The chances they missed... Liverpool had Alisson to the rescue last year, if anything it was PSG not putting them to the sword today," McManaman said.
He added that Liverpool looked "very lightweight up top" and highlighted how PSG captain Marquinhos had an unusually easy game, barely tested by the Reds' attack. "It's going to be difficult to turn this around, against this team. Marquinhos has had the easiest game of the season, he's hardly done anything today. It's going to take a huge performance for Liverpool to turn this around next week."
Anfield Return Offers Slim Hope
Despite the criticism, Gerrard acknowledged that Liverpool have given themselves a "small opportunity" to overturn the deficit in the second leg at Anfield. However, he warned that PSG's quality makes it a "real big ask" for the Premier League champions to progress in the competition.
Liverpool will need a significant improvement in their attacking output and overall performance to have any chance of advancing, with the pressure mounting on Slot and his players ahead of the crucial return fixture.
