sports

Slot defends benching Salah as Liverpool lose to PSG

Liverpool manager Arne Slot defended his decision to bench talisman Mohamed Salah as the Reds suffered a 2-0 defeat to PSG in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg.

Arne Slot made the bold call to change formation to a three-at-the-back set-up, benching Salah who didn't fit into the system. The tactical move yielded no tangible results, with Slot claiming it was better to save Salah's energy for upcoming games rather than using him during a defensive period.

The switch to a back three was criticized as unnecessary and reckless, stripping Liverpool of their usual structure and leaving players visibly unsure of their roles. PSG was in complete control and could have put the tie to bed, with Slot urged to abandon the experiment quickly.