Arne Slot has revealed the Liverpool team bus was forced into a diversion on its way to Anfield ahead of the Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain, having been advised to do so by police.
Liverpool fans were out in force as they lined the streets heading to Anfield before Tuesday’s game. The Reds are looking to book their place in the quarter-finals, having come away with a 1-0 win from the first leg in Paris thanks to Harvey Elliott’s late winner.
As is usual for a big European night, supporters were out early in order to welcome their team to the ground, with a sea of red smoke and flares creating a fierce atmosphere. Not that Liverpool’s players got to experience it, though.
As Slot revealed to Amazon Prime Video ahead of the game, Liverpool’s team bus was told to take a different route than normal to Anfield, having been advised to avoid the crowds by the police.
“It would have been lovely to experience that, but the police said we had to take a different route, so we couldn’t experience that beautiful moment,” Slot said.
“We took a different route. There were many, many people probably waiting for us, but the police said it wasn’t safe, so unfortunately we couldn’t experience that, but let’s hope the stadium will be even louder than it is out there.”
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PSG’s bus also took a different route into the stadium, having entered the ground through the back door – much like Manchester City in the Premier League back in December.
The French champions will have a 1-0 deficit to overturn as both sides look to book a place in the quarter-finals, where they will face one of Aston Villa or Club Brugge. Slot though knows his side has a big advantage as they return home.
“It’s not only an advantage for us to play at home, you could see it last week as well for Paris Saint-Germain. It was a great atmosphere in that stadium as well.
“To play the same kind of football, for Paris Saint-Germain, as last week, I’m really curious to see if they are able to do that.”
