Arne Slot can rewrite Liverpool history he can't get over as transfer plan comes together
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Liverpool will face a rematch with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League to give Arne Slot a chance to etch a new memoryIt's the one game that, some 12 months on, continues to occupy the mind of the Liverpool head coach. Now Arne Slot will have the opportunity to mastermind a happier conclusion when his team once again lock horns with Paris Saint-Germain.The Anfield meeting between the teams in the round of 16 second leg last season has regularly been held up by the Reds coach as a benchmark of how the game should be played and the best match in which he has ever been involved.That Liverpool ultimately lost on penalties having run out of steam in extra time goes some way to explaining why continued references to the fixture have caused consternation among certain sections of the fanbase.But the match also draws a distinct line between the two contrasting periods of Slot's reign, the latter of which meant the thumping 4-0 victory against Galatasaray on Wednesday at the same stage of this season's competition on Wednesday offered the Dutchman some temporary respite from the growing questions over his methods.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!
All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageBefore the Anfield meeting with PSG, Liverpool had played 45 games under Slot and lost just four, two of which - the League Cup semi-final first leg at Tottenham Hotspur and Champions League opening stage dead rubber at PSV Eindhoven - were ultimately regarded meaningless.Since then, though, the Reds have been beaten 17 times in 57 matches as, for a variety of reasons, his new-look team have struggled to consistently gel.In watching how PSG first negotiated his Liverpool team and subsequently dismantled all-comers to then lift the European Cup less than three months later, Slot pinpointed the need to inject pace going forward into his team and greater creativity from open play.The manner of the win over Galatasaray, with the Reds employing two up front as they now have done in four of their 10 Champions League games this season, was a stirring example of what the Liverpool boss has been seeking.Florian Wirtz began to probe with greater intent second half, Mohamed Salah thrived in a more central position and Alexis Mac Allister was able to make much more of an impact nearer the opposing goal than his own. Nevertheless, Liverpool's Premier League travails have not been helped by a lack of steel as they have been pursuing their style.PSG, resounding victors over Chelsea in both legs of their first knockout round tie, will be the acid test of exactly where Liverpool stand in their development on the European stage.
As last year, the first game will take place in France with the return at Anfield the following week.Curiously, Wednesday was the first time Liverpool had won a Champions League round of 16 game at Anfield since Real Madrid were thumped by the same scoreline in 2009. And in their last eight knockout games in the competition played on their own turf, Liverpool have won only twice.While Europe has offered refuge from a poor domestic season, Slot will know hope it can now be an inspiration.