High-Stakes Second Leg Awaits At Anfield
Liverpool are finally set to face Paris Saint-Germain in a 16-foot thriller in the Champions League Round of 16 at Anfield on Tuesday. Reds are 1-0 up from the first leg after a heroic defensive performance and Harvey Elliott late stander turned PSG over in Paris. The Ligue 1 champions are far from finished with this tie, though, and Luis Enrique’s team will be determined to overturn their deficit and keep their European hopes alive.
First leg recap: Liverpool’s resilience and PSG’s wastefulness
PSG had a predictably one-sided possession and fired no fewer than 27 shots, but Alisson Becker was in world-class form in the visitors’ goal at the Parc des Princes. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a goal chalked off for offside and Liverpool made the most of their only moment of real attacking threat as the substitute Elliott scored in the closing moments.
The Reds have a strong history of going through despite losing the first leg, having progressed in the last 14 Champions League ties in which they lost the first leg. But their uneven first-half display during Saturday’s 3-1 comeback victory over Southampton set alarm bells ringing for this showdown.
PSG’s away form and the challenge of Anfield
PSG are a fearsome attacking team despite their first-leg frustrations. They answered emphatically over the weekend, routing Rennes 4-1, with Ousmane Dembélé netting a pair to bring his Ligue 1 total to 20 goals. Meanwhile, the French giants have won their last 13 matches away from home in all competitions, including wins over Brest, Stuttgart and Salzburg in the Champions League.
But French teams have failed to win any of the past 15 encounters in England, and recent history of the last decade or so favors English clubs on home soil. PSG were the most recent French club to win at such an opponent, defeating Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2020.
Liverpool
The only side they are yet to emerge from their Southampton win unscathed, although Cody Gakpo is a doubt with a knock. Out: Tyler Morton (shoulder), Joe Gomez (hamstring), Conor Bradley (hamstring).
Dominik Szoboszlai, who had a quiet game against Southampton, may be replaced in the attacking midfield position by Elliott.
Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Elliott, Diaz; Nunez
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG have no injury concerns, unlike Liverpool. Enrique rotated some of his important players against Rennes, and those are expected to resume for this critical match. Judging by what we’re hearing, Nuno Mendes, Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, and Dembélé will all be starting, as will Fabian Ruiz and Donnarumma.
Probable XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Barcola
Prediction: Liverpool 1-3 PSG (AET, PSG Progress 3-2 on Aggregate)
Anfield has seen many European nights but PSG’s fully rested squad and attacking depth could be the key. Liverpool’s sluggish first-half display against Southampton revealed some potential weaknesses, and PSG would not be as forgiving as the Saints.
If Dembélé delivers, their reinforced defense does its job and Enrique switches up his tactics as needed, they should find openings to take advantage of Liverpool hitting the pyre. The Parisians will overturn the deficit in a high-intensity clash where they might need extra time to confirm their passage to the last-8 of the competition.
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