Liverpool’s elimination from the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League to PSG left a bitter feeling amongst the fanbase. In hindsight, there were some good and bad aspects of it to take into consideation.
The reality is that unless Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a masterclass filled with many clutch saves, Liverpool would’ve progressed to the quarterfinals. A positive the Reds would take from the performance is Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impressive performance.
The English defender had a few shaky moments in the early moments struggling with PSG’s blistering counter-attacks. He recovered well and was especially inspiring in the second half, constantly making darting forward runs to pile on the pressure.
Trent came close to scoring the equalizer in the second half, hitting the post with a brilliant left-footed strike. He moved the ball forward swiftly, pressed the PSG players sharply to regain possession and help his team move forward quickly on the break.
if diaz wasn’t offside
— ౨ৎ (@trentlbou) March 12, 2025pic.twitter.com/WW08e1XE3f
To his credit, the 26-year-old recovered well from his nightmare at the Parc des Princes. Trent made three interceptions, two tackles and won five duels, not allowing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia any clear-cut opportunities. The Englishman literally ran himself to the ground and ended up picking up an injury that forces him out of the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.
Despite the hard work from the starting lineup players, Arne Slot’s substitutes failed to impress. Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones were both brought onto make a positive impact. They failed to show that necessary hunger needed from sustitutes to impact matches.
Nunez failed to put the tired PSG defenders under any pressure, being too immobile with his movement and not showing enough desire to drag defenders out of their natural positions. Jones struggled to impose himself in the midfield battle.
He was too lethargic with his movement, not putting in enough work to pressurize the PSG players or win the ball back in key areas. Both substitutes have been slammed for being too lazy with their overall approach and ‘jogging around’ as Liverpool chased for an equalizer.
Jones came on as Alexis Mac Allister’s replacement in the 91st minute. He failed to replicate the Argentine’s creative threat, his positive energy levels of driving nature.
Jones only completed seven passes, failing to help his side really dominate the final 30 minutes. He stepped up under pressure at the penalty shootout, but his poor penalty attempt was easily saved by Donnarumma.
Like the Englishman, Nunez almost operated like the invisible man in Liverpool’s frontline. He just couldn’t show enough passion with his approach, failing to cause any harm to the visitors.
The Uruguayan forward just made five passes and had zero shots on target and zero chances created. To top off a horrible performance, he struck a really poor penalty that gave PSG all the confidence needed to win the shootout.
