Arne Slot treads a fine line as unexpected Liverpool gamble just about pays off

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SportFootballLiverpool FCIan Doyle with the main talking point from Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final first leg at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday eveningThere’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity. All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageBut that by the end the Reds were fortunate to escape with only a 2-0 defeat underlines the European champions eventually got to grips with the task in hand.Slot’s decision to play three centre-backs – which, for the most part, meant Liverpool had five defenders and a sixth whenever Ryan Gravenberch or Alexis Mac Allister dropped deep – asked a lot of a team already grappling with a crisis in both confidence and quality.It didn’t suit everyone, not least those of an attacking leaning who were often left to fend for themselves with diminishing returns.

Florian Wirtz aside, there was little spark to Liverpool’s forward play.There will of course be those unimpressed by Slot’s pragmatic approach. But there couldn’t be any complaints with the Reds' attitude nor their character, especially after going behind early to a massively-deflected Desire Doue strike.That was the point Liverpool could have folded.

It's not over quite yet.Ian DoyleIan Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 25 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCUEFA Champions LeagueArne Slot