Match Preview: PSG vs Liverpool | OneFootball

Fixture: Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool Competition: Champions League Kick-off: 20:00 UK time

Paris Saint-Germain are all set to welcome Liverpool to the Parc des Princes this evening in the first leg of the last 16 Champions League tie between the two teams.

The French giants are purring as the campaign enters its business end and have put in a number of hugely impressive performances in recent weeks, which has raised hopes they could win the Champions League.

PSG have recorded two 7-0 wins in their last four games, while they have won all of their last ten games, across all competitions.

Liverpool will though represent a real test for PSG as the Reds arrive in the French capital sitting top of the Premier League and having also topped the league phase in the Champions League.

The two clubs first met in the Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1996/97 campaign at the semi-final stage, with a 3-0 first leg win for PSG being too much for Liverpool to overturn as the second leg at Anfield finished 2-0 to the Reds.

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Paris Saint-Germain: WWWWW Liverpool: WWDWD

Key Men

Paris Saint-Germain

A new-era PSG side, minus Kylian Mbappe, have been sharing the workload around and Liverpool will face threats from every area of the pitch.

Ousmane Dembele, a player Liverpool have been interested in before, has been key for PSG this season, scoring 18 goals, with six of those coming in the Champions League, while fellow winger Bradley Barcola is building his reputation, with three goals and three assists in the competition. Liverpool’s full-back face a thorough examination in the French capital.

Liverpool

It is impossible to overlook the importance Mohamed Salah will have in the tie. The Egyptian has shrugged off no new contract having been signed to go from success to success and if Liverpool are to put PSG out then he will have a massive say.

PSG though will also ask massive questions of Liverpool defensively and there seems little doubt they will get through the Reds’ backline at times, meaning Alisson could be the difference between the two teams. The Brazilian is one of Liverpool’s world class players and if he has a good night at the Parc des Princes it could put the Reds in a good place for the second leg.

Prediction

Liverpool might have thought they would get some kind of reward for finishing top of the league phase table, but they have one of the worst last 16 ties they could have been given, against a PSG side looking supreme at home and abroad.

Stopping such a rampant PSG from scoring on home turf could be mission impossible for Liverpool and the Reds must make sure that any deficit is one they can make up at Anfield, while they should also be able to get on the scoresheet themselves.