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LIVERPOOL, England: Arne Slot believes Liverpool have given Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) a clear warning about their true capabilities after thrashing Galatasaray 4-0 to book a Champions League quarter-final meeting with the defending champions.

PSG previously eliminated the Slot team on penalties on their way to lifting the trophy for the first time last season.

Liverpool were at the top of the English Premier League (EPL) at the time, but are now going through a more challenging second season under Slot’s management.

The Reds are currently fifth in the league and have to bounce back after losing 0-1 in the first leg in Istanbul.

But there was no longer any doubt about the outcome of the match once Dominik Szoboszlai equalised on aggregate in the 25th minute at Anfield.

Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah added goals in the second half, with Salah also missing a penalty as Liverpool bounced back in style after being booed by fans following their 1-1 draw with Tottenham earlier.

“They haven’t lowered their standards. It’s hard for them to improve any further, but they’ve been impressive so far,” Slot said of PSG.

“But I think after tonight, they’re not excited to face us either.”

Liverpool won 1-0 at Parc des Princes last season despite being clearly pressured by their opponents.

However, things were different at Anfield when PSG won 1-0 despite Liverpool showing a better performance before losing on penalties.

“We were really dominated when we played away. I thought we played great at Anfield but in the end we lost on penalties,” Slot stressed.

Slot’s decision to rest several key players against Spurs last weekend proved to be fruitful.

Salah was among those who returned to the starting line-up and scored his 50th Champions League goal after being disappointed by failing to convert a penalty and several great chances.

“I think that shows his mentality. He missed a penalty before half-time and that was a difficult moment because leading 1-0 after 45 minutes doesn’t really reflect the game,” he said.

“But he came back in the second half with a great performance. The passes to Hugo were of great quality and the goals he scored were his signature.”

LONDON: Everton manager David Moyes has defended Arsenal’s tactical approach while praising Mikel Arteta as a great manager amid criticism of the team’s style of play.

Arsenal, who are currently leading the Premier League, have been criticised in recent weeks for relying too much on dead-ball situations, especially corner kicks, as their main goal-scoring strategy.

However, Moyes questioned the criticism and insisted it was part of the tactics of the game.

“You make it seem like it’s a problem because they’re good at set pieces and have a strong, physical team.

“I don’t see any problem with that. It’s part of the game,” Moyes said ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Arsenal.

Moyes, who coached Arteta when the player was with Everton, also described his former teammate as an excellent manager for successfully keeping Arsenal competitive in all competitions this season.

As well as leading the league by seven points over Manchester City, Arsenal are also still in action in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Arsenal are scheduled to face City in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on March 22.

Moyes also defended tactical diversity in football and said the game would become boring if all teams used the same approach.

“If everyone had to play ‘beautiful football’ the same way, then football would become boring.”

“Part of the reason people are talking about it is because it’s a little different than what we’ve seen before,” he said.

Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler also praised Arteta despite previously criticising Arsenal’s time-wasting tactics.

Brighton lost 1-0 to Arsenal recently, but Hurzeler still admits Arteta’s achievements this season have been impressive.

“For me, Arteta is one of the best managers in the world and an example for many coaches,” said Hurzeler.

He also sent a message to Arteta expressing his respect for the manager and the entire Arsenal team.

NEWCASTLE, England: Omar Marmoush scored twice as Manchester City came from behind to beat Newcastle United 3-1 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the eighth consecutive season on Wednesday.

The victory ensured that Pep Guardiola’s squad remained on track to make a fourth consecutive appearance in the FA Cup final, as well as maintaining their chances of winning four trophies this season.

“This is our best performance in this stadium in my decade here,” Guardiola told TNT Sports .

“That’s consistency and that’s why I’m proud.”

Newcastle started the match well when Harvey Barnes received a beautiful pass before firing into the corner of the goal in the 18th minute to put the hosts ahead.

City, who are also seven-time FA Cup winners, then regained control of the game and equalized in the 39th minute through Savinho.

The goal came in a unique situation when Jeremy Doku’s pass passed over the defence before the ball hit Savinho’s foot and bounced into the goal.

Marmoush scored his first goal in the 47th minute after Matheus Nunes sent a flicked ball across the goal before the Egyptian striker blasted a shot into the roof of the net.

He completed his second goal in the 65th minute in almost the same way when he received Nunes’ cross before shooting hard.

The opportunity for him to score a hat-trick was thwarted when Guardiola took off Marmoush shortly afterwards and was replaced by Antoine Semenyo.

The City manager, who looked so enthusiastic on the sidelines throughout the match, also hugged Marmoush as the player headed to the bench.

“It was a good performance even though we didn’t start perfectly,” Marmoush told TNT Sports.

“We conceded an early goal but showed mentality and spirit in midfield… we are happy to be through to the next round.”

Guardiola made 10 changes for the fifth round match compared to the team that drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest last Wednesday.

City’s main striker, Erling Haaland, is not listed in the squad ahead of a busy schedule including the Champions League last 16 match against Real Madrid next Wednesday.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe felt his players were tired in the second half.

“Maybe our energy ran out, especially in the second half and also at the end of the first half.

“They really put pressure on us. You have to admit they are a very good team.”

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur continue to be in danger of relegation after losing 1-3 to Crystal Palace in the English Premier League (EPL) early this morning.

Igor Tudor’s side took the lead through Dominic Solanke’s first-half goal before Palace scored three goals in 12 minutes before the break in north London.

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven was shown a red card after committing a professional foul on Ismaila Sarr who then converted the penalty kick.

Jorgen Strand Larsen added Palace’s second before Sarr struck again as the atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium turned tense.

Angry fans in the increasingly empty stadium jeered Tudor and his players as soon as the final whistle blew, after thousands of fans had already left their seats before the end of the match.

Currently in 16th place, Tottenham are just one point above the relegation zone after West Ham, who are in 18th place, won over Fulham early yesterday morning.

Tottenham have lost five league games in a row and are still winless in 11 consecutive top-flight matches for the first time since 1975.

With just one win from 13 home league games, Tottenham are now in serious danger of playing in the second division for the first time since the 1977-78 season.

It remains the only season in which they have not played in the major leagues since 1950.

Tottenham still have nine more games to save themselves from a shock relegation, starting with a visit to Liverpool on March 15.

Before that, Tottenham will face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League last 16, this Tuesday, but European competition is no longer their priority.

After losing to London rivals Arsenal and Fulham in Tudor’s first two games since replacing the sacked Thomas Frank, Palace continued to add to Tottenham’s woes, who could face a clash of neighbours against Championship clubs such as Millwall, Charlton and QPR next season.

Tottenham are now at risk of relegation which could cost them up to £260 million, according to a report this week.

It would be a major blow to the club, which recorded a loss of £129 million last year, during a period when they had the third highest operating costs among European clubs.