Arne Slot believes it was better for Mohamed Salah to ‘save his energy’ after he was left on the bench for Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Liverpool produced a dismal display in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie as goals in each half from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sealed the win for PSG.

Slot, meanwhile, opted to start with a back five with Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez operating as wing-backs, while Salah was named as a substitute.

Liverpool failed to register a shot on goal against PSG and with minimal opportunities to attack the Champions League holders, Slot opted not to call upon Salah in the second half.

When asked about his decision to keep Salah on the bench against PSG, Slot said: ‘I think in the last part of the game, it was more about surviving for us than there was ever a chance that we could score.

‘Yeah, you never know, because last season we scored five minutes before the end, Harvey Elliott, when I took Mo off, but I think this was 20-25 minutes where we were only defending.

‘And Mo has so...