Liverpool have struggled for consistency in the Premier League, and their Champions League campaign ended too early again.
Arne Slot is still yet to take the Reds beyond the last eight in Europe, a level Jurgen Klopp reached regularly during his peak years at Anfield. There are several reasons for that, from injuries to form to the transition still ongoing.
But one of the clearest explanations is depth. Liverpool’s strongest XI can compete with almost anyone, yet the drop-off beyond it has been too obvious. PSG’s minute distribution this season puts that plainly.
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Liverpool’s concerning squad depth highlighted by PSG
Only four PSG players have played more than two-thirds of their available league minutes this season. And they now look like the most dangerous team left in the competition, alongside Bayern.
It did not hurt, of course, that PSG had their league game against Lens postponed before facing Liverpool. But it’s more than that.
Liverpool, by comparison, have had ten players play at least two-thirds of their Premier League minutes. Virgil van Dijk, at 34, has played every minute. Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, Alisson, Mohamed Salah and Milos Kerkez have all carried heavy league workloads too.
There is an obvious counterpoint. PSG are playing in Ligue 1 and can afford to rotate more than Liverpool can in the Premier League. They are also the extreme example.
But Arsenal are a more relevant comparison, and even they have a far better balance. Mikel Arteta’s side have seven players above that two-thirds threshold in the Premier League, and they have managed to reach the Champions League semi-finals — with a favourable route, it must be said.
Manchester City would likely tell a similar story. The best sides in Europe do not just have stars, they have enough high-level options to protect them.
That is where Liverpool still look short. Slot’s best team is strong, but too many players have been asked to carry too much for too long. It has shown up in the injury list.
It will not get any easier when Salah and Robertson leave, especially with a couple of other exits likely as well. Liverpool need more than one or two clever additions this summer. They need depth across the squad.
If they want to fight on all fronts next season, it has to be a busy summer.
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