The UCL's second night of quarter-final action arrives tonight, and the contrast between the two sides could hardly be sharper. Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champions, host a Liverpool side in deep crisis at the Parc des Princes.
PSG come into the match on a four-game winning run including a 3-1 win over Toulouse on Friday. Luis Enrique's side are four points clear at the top of Ligue 1 with a game in hand and have not lost in seven consecutive Champions League games against English opposition. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has scored in six of his last nine home UCL matches and is the standout threat.
Liverpool's situation is alarming. Arne Slot's side have lost 15 games this season — their worst tally since 2014-15 under Brendan Rodgers. They were hammered 4-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup at the Etihad on Saturday, with Virgil van Dijk admitting the team "gave up" and Slot saying he "missed the fighting spirit" after half-time. Mohamed Salah missed a penalty in that defeat, his second consecutive spot-kick failure. The Egyptian's final weeks at Anfield are not going to plan.
Alisson Becker misses out injured, meaning Giorgi Mamardashvili starts in goal. Alexander Isak is travelling with the squad after returning from a broken leg but is unlikely to start. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo remain sidelined.
The likely lineups:
PSG 4-3-3: Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.
Liverpool 4-2-3-1: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike.
Last season, Liverpool won the first leg 1-0 in Paris with a heroic Alisson display carrying them through. The circumstances are very different this time. PSG are sharper, more settled, and considerably better placed.
Kick-off at the Parc des Princes is at 9pm CET.
