Liverpool's Top-Five Hopes Under Threat After PSG Defeat

Liverpool's chances of a top-five finish are hanging in the balance after a disappointing 2-0 loss to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg. The Reds are facing their toughest run-in among Premier League teams chasing a top-five spot, with only two wins in their last eight games. The pressure is mounting on manager Arne Slot, who has been criticized for his tactics, including by Jamie Carragher, who believes Slot got it "massively wrong" in Paris. Liverpool's domestic cup hopes were ended by a thrashing at the hands of Manchester City, and their Champions League qualification is far from guaranteed. The Reds currently sit fifth, but Chelsea, Brentford, and Everton are all within striking distance. According to Opta's season predictor, Liverpool have only a 54.9% chance of finishing in the top five. Slot will need to come up with a new strategy to turn things around, starting with a crucial match against Fulham on Saturday. The stats are alarming, with Liverpool having won just four of their last 13 Premier League games and ranking 16th in shot conversion despite having the second-most shots in the league. The Reds have also dropped a league-high nine points from goals conceded in the 90th minute or later and have failed to win any of their three Premier League matches against Fulham under Slot.