Say what you will, but football fate has a sense of balance. If last season luck turned its back on Liverpool in the Champions League knockout draw, handing the league-phase winners a clash with PSG, then this time the Reds got arguably the easiest opponent available.
But neither a favorable draw nor the readiness of key players guaranteed Liverpool victory. This season, Arne Slot’s side knows how to surprise, so after a thrilling clash with Tottenham, true Reds fans likely prepared at least a glass of single malt to calm their nerves ahead of the European midweek.
Especially considering Liverpool effectively started the second leg at 0–1 in favor of the visitors. Galatasaray had already beaten the Merseysiders twice in this Champions League campaign, despite the fact that their leaders’ peak belonged to the era of millennial primes — back when cold snacks with horseradish were a thing and adding extra brackets at the end of a message wasn’t considered cringe.
Slot reinvents Salah and proves his tactical brilliance
In his post-match comments, the Dutchman said:
“We positioned Mo a bit more centrally today. We used a 4-2-2-2 shape, with the full-backs providing the width. That allowed us to access the areas where we could make the most of Salah’s strengths.”
The decision paid off completely. Yes, Mohamed Salah missed several big chances, but at least he was getting into those positions — something that had been lacking in previous matches.
This kind of flexibility will certainly come in handy for Liverpool in the league, where opponents are well accustomed to Salah operating wide on the flank — but are they ready for him drifting closer to the center?
Moreover, the 4-2-2-2 system could also serve as useful preparation for the return of Alexander Isak, who is expected to be fit again after the upcoming international break.
Dominik Szoboszlai — Liverpool’s beating heart
Over the past 8–10 years, the main faces of Liverpool’s biggest triumphs have been Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mané, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Roberto Firmino. But this season, their era has finally come to an end — even though the first two still remain key figures in the starting lineup.
Dominik Szoboszlai may not wear the captain’s armband, but he is the true mental leader of this Liverpool side. The Hungarian midfielder ignites the team not only with his footballing ability, but also with the energy he transmits to his teammates.
His constant movement energizes newcomers Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez, while he has already earned the respect of the team’s veterans. It says a lot that even Salah, in one of his interviews, highlighted Szoboszlai’s decisive role in shaping the new Liverpool.