Liverpool’s Champions League hopes stay fragile after a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final first leg, with Arne Slot describing the situation as survival mode as Liverpool chase a semi-final place before the Anfield return.

The result continues a poor spell away from home. Liverpool have now been beaten in four straight away matches in all competitions, the first time that has happened since a run between February and April 2012, underlining current problems.

This season has also brought repeated losing streaks. Liverpool have suffered three successive defeats in all competitions on three separate occasions. The last campaign with at least three such runs was 1953-54, when Liverpool were relegated from the top division.

Against PSG, Liverpool created very little. Slot’s side finished with only three attempts, none on target, and a combined expected goals figure of 0.17. PSG, meanwhile, passed up several clear openings that could have increased the advantage before the second leg.

The 0.17 expected goals total was Liverpool’s lowest attacking return in any competition under Slot. It was also the first time Liverpool failed to register a shot on target in a Champions League match since facing Atalanta in November 2020, highlighting the lack of attacking threat.

Slot reflected on the performance and the wider situation. “We were in survival mode for large parts of the game but maybe also the period of the season we are in, we are in survival mode,” said Slot. “PSG was the better team but we didn’t give up and that is why we still have a chance.”

Data still paints a difficult picture for progression. Opta’s supercomputer currently gives Liverpool a 15.2% probability of reaching the semi-finals. However, the tie remains open before the second leg at Anfield, where Liverpool hope the atmosphere and familiar surroundings will lift performance levels.

Slot also pointed to tactical issues that helped PSG. “They kept us alive by not scoring a few open chances. We want to create much more chances. We tried many times to get them high, but they were able to play through us when we went man-to-man. I think that happened in the second half as well. There were a few times with players in promising positions.”

Liverpool’s focus now switches back to the Premier League, where Slot’s team sit fifth before hosting Fulham this weekend. The domestic fixture offers a chance to stop the losing run and rebuild confidence ahead of the decisive Champions League meeting with PSG at Anfield.