Liverpool boss Arne Slot may need to axe some of his stars to go further in the Champions League (Image: Getty)
were dumped out of the by Paris Saint-Germain in a disappointing last-16 exit. side were unable to build on a 1-0 aggregate lead at Anfield and ultimately lost on penalties after Ousmane Dembele levelled the tie.
A failure to score across 120 minutes should be a major worry for Slot. When is not on form, like against the Parisians, there are few forwards who seem capable of stepping up. With a Premier League title looking a certainty, the Reds should already be looking ahead to next season. There are at least four players who might not play for the club in the Champions League again.
Express Sport takes a look at who faces an exit this summer.
Luis Diaz
Ousmane Dembele and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia showed the levels needed from forwards in games as big as Champions League knockouts. Bradley Barcola also had some exceptional moments during both legs.
Diaz has always been an excellent option for but is below the standard of PSG’s attackers. He is perhaps most guilty of failing to step up when Salah is having an off-day. With two years remaining on the 28-year-old’s contract, ’s last opportunity to seek a premium fee for the Colombian is this summer.
Diogo Jota
Without an elite striker, Slot faces a similar problem to the one experienced by this season. The Dutchman is fortunate to have navigated the campaign without a prolific centre-forward and has to thank for scoring the goals set to propel to silverware.
If Salah departs, must upgrade up front. Jota has not scored in his last 17 Champions League appearances and has struck only five Premier League goals this season. That is not the record of a striker starting most weeks for a strong portion of games for the country’s leading team.
The fee received for Jota must go towards signing an upgrade.
Diogo Jota has struggled in front of goal in the Champions League (Image: Getty)
Darwin Nunez
Like Jota, Nunez has not scored enough to justify being the No 9 for the Premier League’s best team. The Uruguayan has scored only seven times this season, with five in the league. His work-rate was publicly criticised by Slot after the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa last month.
Nunez was linked with a January exit and seems likely to move on in the summer. need a better centre-forward and surely they are the only club with the resources and lure to attract Alexander Isak ahead of 2025-26.
Alexander-Arnold endured a tough time up against Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes. With a move to Real Madrid seemingly on the horizon, the 26-year-old’s career in the Champions League might have ended with him hobbling off after suffering an ankle injury.
If Alexander-Arnold does depart for the Spanish capital, it will be a sad conclusion to a wonderful European career with the Reds. Salah and Virgil van Dijk seem much likelier to remain.