Slot laments missed chances in UCL exit

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said his side's Champions League exit again laid bare a season-long struggle to turn chances into goals, after it was eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain following a 2-0 home defeat on Tuesday that sealed a 4-0 aggregate loss.

Despite enjoying 53 percent of possession, having 21 attempts to PSG's 12 and eight corners to the visitor's two, it was PSG that found the net, Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele struck twice in the second half to stamp the defending champion's ticket to the semifinals.

"Unfortunately, it's one of the many examples this season where we weren't able to score from the many chances we had,"Slot said.

"Again, we were so far underperforming in terms of xG (expected goals — which was 1.94 for Liverpool in the game), and that is just an ongoing thing with us throughout the whole season."

Slot also pointed to a contentious VAR decision that saw a penalty given for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister overturned and a potentially serious injury to France forward Hugo Ekitike, adding to Liverpool's sense of disappointment on the night.

"(There was) another VAR intervention which was not in our favor, and that's also not the first time this season," he said.

"Then, of course, we are very disappointed, because I think there were parts of the second half where you just felt 'if we can score now, this is going to become a special night'."

Slot handed a first start to Alexander Isak since the Sweden international suffered a broken leg in December and said the striker's return underlined what his team has missed.

"He was twice close to scoring a goal, and that's why you play a striker of his level," the Dutch coach said. "If I thought he wasn't ready, I wouldn't have played him."

Slot said Isak's absence had been a factor in Liverpool's difficulties in front of goal this season, but he remained optimistic about the future.

"The future looks very bright for this team, for this club, because we've shown we can compete with the champions of Europe and be the dominant team in our stadium," he said.

"Not many teams can be dominant against Paris Saint-Germain and generate so many chances, as we did. But, yeah, (creating) chances is one thing, scoring is another."

Liverpool, which is fifth in the Premier League as it tries to qualify for next season's Champions League, visits crosstown rival Everton at its new stadium for the first time on Sunday.