Robertson Says Liverpool “Have to Be Better” in Second Leg Against PSG
Liverpool have a 1-0 advantage but know they have to play better after being outplayed by PSG in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie.
Liverpool head into the second half of their Round of 16 Champions League tie against Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain with both a 1-0 advantage and with the advantage of welcoming the French side at Anfield for the decisive leg.
Given the first leg was arguably the best any opponent has looked against Liverpool this season, though, and that it took a career best outing from goalkeeper Alisson Becker to earn that narrow lead, nobody’s feeling complacent.
“We have got the lead, which is important, but we can obviously play better,” was left back Andy Robertson’s honest assessment of the situation. “That’s clear, we have to play better. We can’t rely on Alisson playing the game of his life every game.
“We have to be better, and we have to be better without the ball. If we do that, hopefully the crowd can be behind us as we know what they can be like on Champions League nights. The aim is to get through, but we have to play a lot better.”
That narrow lead means any draw or victory will do and makes the Reds favourites despite their sub-par first leg performance, and that even in the first match they looked better after halftime adjustments is another positive to take into leg two.
Whoever eventually advances from the Liverpool vs. PSG tie will face the winner of Aston Villa vs. Club Brugge in the quarter-finals, with Villa taking a 3-1 edge into the home leg of their pairing and strongly favoured to be the ones advancing.
“The stadium made a difference on Wednesday as their players reacted off their fans,” Robertson added. “More often than not on Champions League nights it’s our players who do that—and we don’t need to ask our fans to be at their best.
“It’s a given and up to us to react. It’s not easy to get into the Champions League quarter-finals—especially the draw we’ve been given—but if we are at our best we believe we can beat any team. If we do, we will be the ones in the last eight.”
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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