Arne Slot probably didn't appreciate the many ways in which his comments could be construed. But that doesn't make them any less accurate.

Speaking deep inside the Parc des Princes on Wednesday shortly after Liverpool's painful defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Slot proffered: "We were in survival mode for large parts of the game but maybe also in the period of the season we are in, we are in survival mode."

In terms of remaining alive in their Champions League quarter-final tie, the plug hasn't been pulled quite yet on the Reds after they managed to hold on to a 2-0 reverse having been outplayed for the majority of the game by the vibrant holders.

Indeed, futures of Slot, several of his players and the hopes of the Reds retaining their place in the Champions League next season are all on the line. Rather than making progress, those aims are about attempting to preserve the status quo. Survival.

Certainly, what made Wednesday unusual is that...