Ekitike Torn Apart as Liverpool's Champions League Hopes Hang by a Thread

Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain turned into a night to forget, with the Reds dismantled 2-0 by a PSG side that showed precisely why they're among Europe's elite.

The Parisiens were utterly dominant from whistle to whistle, racking up 17 shots to Liverpool's paltry three. Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia got on the scoresheet, handing PSG a commanding advantage ahead of next week's return fixture at Anfield.

But it was Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike who drew the ire of former Premier League operator Gabby Agbonlahor. The Frenchman's display left plenty to be desired, and Agbonlahor didn't hold back during his commentary for talkSPORT.

"Ekitike was an absolute disgrace, and we're big fans of him," Agbonlahor said. "He didn't turn up, he didn't try, he was lazy. Everytime he got one vs one, he'd give the ball away."

The timing couldn't be worse for Liverpool. A 4-0 FA Cup hammering to Manchester City over the weekend has left the club's season in tatters, with a fifth-place Premier League finish looking increasingly likely. Now facing an uphill battle in Europe's premier club competition, questions are beginning to swirl about the mood within the squad.

Agbonlahor was particularly puzzled by Slot's decision to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench, with the Egyptian never making an appearance despite five substitutions being made. That decision raised eyebrows, and the former Villa striker used it as a springboard for a broader critique.

"It's not looking good for Arne Slot," Agbonlahor continued. "You're starting to look at some of these players and you're saying, 'are you really fighting for the manager?' It doesn't look like it."

Presenter Alan Brazil added his own two pence, suggesting that Slot's post-match demeanour told its own story. "I watched his interview, and I just felt he knows his time is up, or is running out," Brazil reflected.

For his part, Slot refused to surrender hope entirely. When quizzed about Liverpool's prospects of mounting a comeback, he pointed to the club's remarkable history and the power of Anfield as a fortress.

"Probably I have to refer to last season what gives me the best feeling, and I have to refer to the history of this club: how much impact Anfield can make for a performance," Slot explained. "We were outplayed here last season, which led to a 1-0 win from us, which was unbelievable. Paris Saint-Germain was by far the better team today and could have scored more than two goals."

He acknowledged the defensive discipline required to keep a side like PSG at bay, noting that his players had shown "fighting spirit" and maintained their shape when it mattered most. However, Slot was candid about the need for improvement.

"Last season at Anfield we played a completely different game, after 10 minutes we could have been already 2-0 up," he said. "But we need to have a better performance and we definitely need our fans to help us to create an atmosphere where we can rise to a better level than we did in this game."