Liverpool manager Arne Slot defended his team selection, saying: "We played Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Hugo together for 88 minutes until this game, and we added 27 minutes for them against PSG. I would be surprised if I added more this season. The good thing is Isak's return to play." Media outlets unanimously agreed that Dutch Premier League champion Liverpool manager Arne Slot lost his bet by starting Swedish striker Alexander Isak for the first time since his injury last December, along with Frenchman Hugo Ekitike and benching their Egyptian star Mohamed Salah in the defeat to Frenchman Ousmane Dembele's two goals against European champions Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield. Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals after also losing the first leg 0-2 to PSG. Ekitike (23) suffered an injury and was stretchered off in the first half, forcing Slot to bring on Salah in his place. However, Isak failed to make an impact, touching the ball only 5 times in 45 minutes, which prompted Slot to substitute him at halftime and bring on Cody Gakpo in place of the Newcastle-bound £130 million signing. The game delighted Spanish manager Enrique and Ballon d'Or winner Dembele, but disappointed France coach Didier Deschamps, who had called up the Liverpool player last September. He took two hits due to Ekitike and PSG's Desiree Dueye's injuries. According to the report, the Liverpool player's injury appears serious, and his participation in the World Cup is at real risk. His compatriot and teammate Ibrahima Konate commented: "I'm very sad for him and hope he comes back, but I think his injury is bad, I don't know. The future is very bright for this team and this club, we showed our ability to compete with the European champions on our ground, not many teams can dominate PSG but we did and created scoring chances." On the penalty awarded to Liverpool and then overturned by VAR, Slot said: "I think we were very lucky last week but the luck went away from us today. I'm not surprised by the decision against us but that's not the story of the game." Meanwhile, the French press celebrated the European champions' progression to the semi-finals but expressed concern over young Dueye's (20) injury after he fell on an advertising board and collided with a Liverpool ball boy and microphone on the touchline. Dueye left the ground limping and manager Enrique brought on Bradley Barcola in his place. "I heard some talks and the situation is difficult for him with the World Cup approaching, I send him my wishes." The French winger will undergo further tests but his manager hinted at the end of his season, saying: "Hugo? We all saw the footage of his injury and it doesn't look simple."
