Luis Diaz and Mikel Arteta just showed Arne Slot what he needs at Liverpool next
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Liverpool was knocked out of the Champions League by PSG earlier this month, and Arne Slot needs to reach those heights next season — not just qualify for the competitionLuis Diaz, Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta.(Image: Getty Images)It was never going to match the 5-4 thriller between PSG and Bayern Munich in the other semi-final first leg, but Atletico Madrid vs Arsenal was an enthralling watch nonetheless.Diego Simeone's side has a reputation for being defensive and dogged, but that isn't really true anymore — it hasn't been for a while. Atleti has conceded more than Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga this season, while in Europe, only three of the 24 teams that qualified for the knockouts (Borussia Dortmund, Club Brugge and Qarabag) let in more during the league phase.It made for a good game to watch, with Julian Alvarez the star man, and Antoine Griezmann, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke among the others to look lively at times.READ MORE: Mohamed Salah injury update issued as Liverpool confirms 'minor' problemREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher offers Man Utd vs Liverpool score prediction - 'Not convinced by them'Arsenal has led the way in the Premier League this season in terms of being in control and slowing things down.
The Gunners showed they can go toe-to-toe with Manchester City recently, while they did similar here.Mikel Arteta hardly has a reputation for liking contests like these, but his players are more than capable of producing them.It wasn't as end-to-end and action-packed as Luis Diaz and co taking on PSG at their own game, but there was a level of intent and quality so often missing in the Premier League this term.Luis Diaz of FC Bayern München celebrates a goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match at Paris Saint-Germain on April 28 2026(Image: Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)Both Atleti and Arsenal were playing out from the back and showing plenty of appetite to carve out chances from open play, not relying on set-pieces, time-wasting and long throws.For Liverpool, going out to PSG in the previous round, this is the level that the Reds need to return to operating at next season. Getting back into the Champions League is one thing; the next step is to properly compete again.With the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to select in attack, though, it should be possible and within reach for Arne Slot.
The Reds have to find a way of getting the most out of that pair and the others around them.Indeed, Liverpool's best performances this season have often tended to come in the Champions League, when teams come out and try to play them at their own game.Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. And across the board, Liverpool is a group of players who can outplay an opponent far more than out-fight it.There is an argument that Liverpool didn't quite see the direction of travel for the Premier League when it brought in technique over brawn last summer, but that will swing back.When it does, Wirtz, Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and others will further come to the fore.For now, saving this season by winning the Champions League was always fanciful, and so it proved when Liverpool came up against PSG.Heading into the next, though, the Reds look to have given themselves a chance of reinstating themselves as a proper contender.