Why Liverpool want to recreate PSG-esque attack force as Arne Slot eyes Champions League glory
Liverpool will kick off their Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday.
Federico Chiesa was left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad, and will subsequently be unavailable for the clash.
The Italian scored the winner for the Reds in the Premier League opener against Bournemouth, but has been left to watch from the stands in Europe’s top competition.
The attacker Arne Slot opted for instead, Rio Ngumoha, can become the youngest scorer in Champions League history if he nets against Atletico Madrid.
Julian Alvarez is set to be missing for Atletico Madrid against Liverpool, amid an early-season injury crisis for the visitors.
Arne Slot wanted to emulate PSG with transfer business
FSG have been roundly praised for Liverpool’s transfer business, and rightly so.
The Reds signed eight new players, including big-money moves for Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Florian Wirtz.
The Telegraph reported on Tuesday that Slot targeted pacey forwards in the hopes of emulating the attack of Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League by the Ligue 1 team at the round of 16 stage last season, but now hope to emulate them by going all the way.
Liverpool attack will share similarities with PSG
PSG dominated European football and stunned onlookers last season with their dynamic front three.
Ousmane Dembele was often selected through the middle, and the Frenchman was supported by two from the hugely exciting trio of Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The forwards make for a freely moving front three, but more than anything, they present ruthless efficiency.
Incredibly, Barcola, Dembele, and Doue directly contributed to 125 goals across all competitions for PSG between them last season, and that is not to include Kvaratskhelia, who arrived in January.
| All competitions – 2024/25 | Alexander Isak | Hugo Ekitike | Mohamed Salah | Florian Wirtz |
| Appearances | 42 | 48 | 52 | 45 |
| Goals | 27 | 22 | 34 | 16 |
| Assists | 6 | 12 | 23 | 15 |
It is easy to see why Slot’s ideal front three would perform similarly, and the Liverpool owners have attempted to give him exactly that.
Isak and Ekitike were among the most prolific strikers in Europe last season, directly contributing to 67 goals between them, and Mohamed Salah’s numbers speak for themselves.
Add in the monstrous talent of Wirtz, and Liverpool have a front four that Slot will hope can propel the Reds to Champions League glory this season.
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