Arne Slot Hits Back at Critics After Liverpool Defender Loses 10 Duels Against PSG | OneFootball

Liverpool manager Arne Slot is defending Trent Alexander-Arnold after the left-back only won four of his 14 total duels (4-for-13 on the ground and 0-for-1 in the air) against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night at the Parc des Princes.

PSG created plenty of chances but couldn’t convert in a 1-0 loss to Liverpool. The home side dominated much of the first half, outshooting Liverpool 12-1, but couldn’t find a breakthrough. Luis Enrique’s squad thought they had taken the lead when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia curled a shot into the top-left corner, only for VAR to rule him offside by the narrowest of margins.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker played a crucial role in keeping PSG off the scoresheet, making four first-half saves and adding five more after the break. Despite relentless pressure from PSG, it was the visitors who found the decisive goal.

In the 87th minute, Alisson sent a long ball to Darwin Nunez, who won a duel and set up substitute Harvey Elliott. The young midfielder stayed composed and slotted his shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma, giving Liverpool the edge heading into the second leg.

Following the win, Liverpool manager Arne Slot spoke to the media, where he acknowledged the stats but praised Alexander-Arnold, noting that these numbers don’t tell the entire story.

“I see the same thing during the season many more times,” Slot said (h/t Liverpoolfc.com). “There have been games – I think City away was one of them – where he was outplayed a few times but we didn’t concede that many big chances against City, so sometimes stats are not telling you the truth.

“If he goes past someone in the width of the pitch, it doesn’t tell you that he’s outplayed. The stats that do matter, I just already said a few times, are clear that Paris Saint-Germain are this season incredible in Europe and in their league. Trent, in the first half, one or two times had some difficulties but in general he defended really well, especially also in the second half.”