That is it from me today. I am exhausted after watching that football match and I am sure you are too. Imagine how the players feel! As always, thanks for joining me! We will be back tomorrow for Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid and our clockwatch as Arsenal host PSV and Club Brugge take on Aston Villa.
Andy Hunter was at Anfield for what Slot called the best football match he has ever been a part of.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, the man who broke English hearts in the 2020 European Championship final shoot-out, proved the big man for the big occasion once again.
The Italy international saved from Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones in the penalty shootout after Ousmane Dembélé’s winner in normal time had levelled the tie on aggregate. Mohamed Salah was the only Liverpool player to convert a spot-kick. Vitinha, brilliant all night, Gonçalo Ramos, Dembele and finally Désiré Doué made no mistake against Alisson.
His full match report is below.
Robertson, who celebrates his birthday today, speaks:
We got the win last week without playing our best. We played better today but that’s football. When it goes to penalties it is always a lottery. Proud of the players.
For finishing top of the group, we got the toughest tie. PSG are a fantastic team, they have threats all over the pitch. But it wasn’t meant to be. We have a cup final on Sunday and then the Premier League push after the international break.
Lots and lots of emails from you all. Thank you all for tuning in. Here are some of your thoughts:
Kieran:
I was gonna check Liverpool’s next fixtures, thinking it’d be against Leicester or something, and brazenly say that the blip will mean nothing.
But no. Their next fixture is against Everton in three weeks time. Going to be a helluva match on Sunday. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets a bit bad tempered ...
Bob:
I can’t help feeling that Salah’s anaemic displays in this and the previous PSG game have lost him whatever chance he had of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Tim:
I can only think the Newcastle fans have to be loving this. There has been a fair old tempo to this game and the players have to be feeling it.
Sam:
That’s heartbreaking but well done for the lads for persevering against 12 men. Possibly the most one-sided refereeing performance I’ve seen all year.
And Peter:
Massive Argh de Non-Triomphe.
Updated
PSG may be back on English soil soon as they will meet either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the quarter-final. Unai Emery’s side start with a 3-1 lead before the second leg of their last-16 tie at Villa Park tomorrow night.
Luis Enrique speaks after his side’s special victory:
It does not matter if we deserve the win. I think both of the teams deserved to go through. We were better in Paris and they were better here. My team showed great personality and character at Anfield. The atmosphere was great and it was tough.
When the draw came out as Liverpool v PSG, both managers thought the same: one of the best games you can watch in Europe.
The Champions League has nothing to do with consistency. You have to be great in moments. We suffered a lot. They suffered a lot. At the end football will take something but then give you something.
It seems hard to believe … but there was other football games on tonight.
Barcelona 3-1 Benfica (4-1 on agg)
Leverkusen 0-2 Bayern Munich (0-5 on agg)
Inter 2-1 Feyenoord (4-1 on agg)
Marcus Thuram (pictured) and Hakan Calhanoglu were on target as Inter defeated Feyenoord 2-1 in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie to advance comfortably into the quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate win.
Inter, the Serie A leaders, will face the Bundesliga table toppers Bayern Munich, who defeated Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 on aggregate, in the quarter-finals next month. The three-time winners Inter last lifted the trophy in 2010, beating Bayern in the final in a treble-winning season, and Inzaghi's side are still on course to repeat that feat, with a Coppa Italia semi-final also to come in April.
Feyenoord came into the game with an uphill task after losing 2-0 at home last week, and by the eighth minute they were left with a mountain to climb following Thuram's superb solo goal. Thuram, who also opened the scoring at De Kuip in the first leg, collected the ball on the left wing before cutting inside with some clever footwork before curling a shot into the far top corner.
Mehdi Taremi sent a shot straight at the keeper as Inter looked to put the tie even further out of reach but Feyenoord pulled one back three minutes before the break from the penalty spot.
Calhanoglu was penalised for a foul on Jakub Moder who picked himself up and sent his spot kick into the bottom corner to beat Yann Sommer, just the second goal Inter have conceded in this season's competition, and the first at San Siro.
Any hope of a Feyenoord comeback all but ended when Calhanoglu made up for his mistake by converting his own penalty six minutes into the second half after Thomas Beelen fouled Taremi.
With Feyenoord taking risks in an effort to get something from the game, Inter were always dangerous on the counter and looked like they had another penalty but after a VAR check, Thuram was booked for simulation instead.
Thuram still received a standing ovation from the home crowd when replaced, having just struck a thunderous shot which bounced back off the underside of the crossbar, and Inter had little trouble seeing the game out. Reuters
Slot has his say after the loss:
It was the best game of football I was ever involved in. Incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week. We were creating chances and then we were 1-0 down. We ran out of luck after last week.
For me it felt like we deserved more than being 1-0 down. We played the perfect game except for scoring a goal. It was similar to them PSG last week where they played the perfect game. And then in extra-time they were maybe a little bit better.
It came down to penalties and we, as Dutch, know how to lose them.
For now, everyone should be disappointment ... I know these players, they’re resilience. It had everyone you wanted from a game. From a Liverpool perspective, we could have at least wanted a draw after 90 minutes.
It feels unfair that we topped the tabe and then faced such a strong team like PSG. We now have a League Cup final and nine Premier League games to go.
What a loss for Liverpool … they have been eliminated from a major European knockout tie for the first time ever after winning the fist leg away from home. Before tonight, their record was progressing from 30 straight ties.
This is also their first penalty shootout loss in the European Cup.
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Liverpool’s captain, Van Dijk gives his assessment:
It was a totally different Liverpool to what we showed in Paris. But penalties … that is the reality.
I think even in the first-half we created dangerous moments. But it came down to penalties. We were pretty good today. You want to go as far as possible.
I told the guys [who missed their penalties] to keep their chin up. We go again.
Obviously, in the first game, the man v man press, we didn’t find the right solution, the right pass. We didn’t do as well today.
The focus will now be on recovery. Because everyone has to be at their very best against Newcastle. I am looking forward to it.
As for Liverpool … will this first big blip for them under Slot have massive repercussions? Will we see Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk playing in this competition for the Reds again? Questions that cannot be answered for certainty now. The players are tearful as they applaud the Anfield crowd.
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The celebrations from the visitors are loud and joyful. And they deserve it! They have shown great grit, composure and talent over the two legs and this seems like it is a new era for PSG. Can these players create a new history in Europe? They will give anyone a game in this competition.
Paris Saint-Germain win 4-1 on penalties!
Doué can finish this for PSG … And he gets it in! PSG WIN AT ANFIELD AND ARE INTO THE QUARTER-FINALS.
Updated
Jones steps up for Liverpool. Can he keep his side in it? He can’t … Donnarumma saves it again and Liverpool are on the brink. It’s a great save, low and a strong hand.
Dembélé is up. And a high, perfect penalty. Camera cuts to Núnez who is crouching down now.
Núñez up next. They call him the agent of chaos. He has had a tumultuous Liverpool career … and his penalty is saved. Donnarumma makes no mistake. Advantage PSG!
Updated
Ramos was brought on for this. He slots it in as Alisson goes the wrong way.
Salah steps up next. He has scored 44/52 pens for Liverpool. And his powerful shot makes it 45. Calm as you like. 1-1
Updated
Up first is Vitinha. Alisson gets his hand on a sneaky, low penalty but it’s in.
The players must be exhausted but they are all going to try to have a clear head. The teams will be shooting towards the away end and it looks like PSG will be taking the penalties first. The two goalkeepers have a word with the referee as they are reminded of the rules. Here we go!
End of extra-time: Liverpool 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (1-1 on agg)
It has been a long night but nothing separates the two sides and we go to penalties.
Updated
120+1 min: Nothing comes from the corner. Penalties beckoning …
120 min: PSG enjoy some possession around the box but nothing comes of it. They go again and win a corner. Before that, Neves comes off for Ramos and we will get one more minute, at least, of play.
118 min: Hakimi wins the ball of Núñez and Lee takes a shot but it is comfortable save, once again, for Alisson.
116 min: Hakimi is well offside but the official takes his time putting the flag up much to the frustration of the Liverpool players.
115 min: Elliott finds Salah in the box who goes down. Referee waves on but the replay shows that he was hit in the face with Mendes’ hand.
113 min: PSG have tweaked their shape and Hakimi is now playing in the middle of the pitch. Doué curls it and it whizzes past the post but Alisson had it covered.
110 min: Konaté is hobbling around. He was down earlier and Van Dijk encouraged him to get up but looks like he really can’t continue. Endo is coming on and Konaté raises his hands as he limps off, asking for the fans to continue their support.
Updated
109 min: Great ball from Hakimi across the face of goal. Dembélé could have had a tap-in if he continued his run. The French forward then gets a chance to curl one and it is saved by Alisson. The resulting corner is taken short before being cleared away.
108 min: Hakimi takes a touch to shoot which is blocked and Alisson saves the follow-up by Vitinha.
105 min: Liverpool get to attack the Kop for these final 15 minutes. Elliott comes on for Szoboszlai.
105+1 min: Gakpo sends the ball right on top of the crossbar but Donnarumma was fouled and the referee blows the whistle for half-time in extra-time.
Updated
104 min: Mendes goes on a long run and he is looking for the foul but he actually slips. Lee decides to leave the ball not knowing that a PSG player touched it last and Liverpool win a corner.
103 min: Jones gives the ball away for the second time since coming on but Liverpool do well to win it back after PSG hit it out.
100 min: Salah and Szoboszlai combine on the right. What an engine the Hungarian is, as he tries to chase the ball once he is tackled. The balls go out and subs are made. Kvaratskhelia comes off for Lee and Díaz’s night is done as Gakpo replaces him.
99 min: Liverpool with some good possession before PSG win the ball back and counter. The visitors choose to take it slow and now they are just passing the ball around the back. Players are tired and the tempo has slowed.
97 min: Robertson is now Liverpool’s corner taker now that Mac Allister but Donnarumma makes the punch away before Jones can get a head on it. The PSG keeper has done that all night; he is not taking any chances.
Updated
95 min: Salah tries to find Jones or Díaz but the ball is just a bit too high and the keeper collects. It is all about the fine margins at this level.
94 min: Another scare for Liverpool from Doué. He does well to hold off a challenge from Van Dijk in the box but his shot, which beats Alisson if on target, is wide. His hands cover his gaping mouth as he looks on in shock.
92 min: PSG win a corner and they take it short. Doué then sends it in for Beraldo who heads it really well, but it’s just wide.
Updated
Liverpool finish the match with just under 70% of the attacks during the 90 minutes, but we are getting at least 30 more minutes. But first some changes. Mac Allister comes off for Jones and Ruiz makes way for Zaïre-Emery.
End of the 90: Liverpool 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (1-1 on agg)
We head to extra-time!
90+5 min: The corner comes in and Beraldo heads it high before Donnarumma gets fouled as he punches it away.
90+4 min: Two wonderful balls in from Robertson, so inviting for someone to get on the end of. The second one wins them a corner.
90+1 min: Dembélé bursts forward and Mac Allister fouls him. He gets in the book and will miss the next match if Liverpool go through. The visitors have a free-kick in a pretty dangerous area but first Marquinhos makes way for Beraldo. And the set-piece goes straight into the wall.
90 min: We are getting five minutes of added time at least.
Updated
89 min: PSG have some possession in the middle of the pitch after Hakimi’s run was not supported by anyone but Liverpool are sitting back. Doué then goes through but Van Dijk and Robertson sandwich him out.
87 min: Dembélé has the ball taken off him by Van Dijk but the ball only goes as far as Kvaratskhelia. He takes a curling shot but it’s just over.
86 min: Chance after chance for Liverpool in this second half but not a single one has ended in a goal.
84 min: Robertson and Núñez link up and the play ends with Donnarumma making himself big. Just before that Salah laid it off in the middle but the keeper denied the pass.
82 min: Núñez involved again! Liverpool win the ball back and he’s in a good position but the flag goes up. He is just off.
81 min: Yikes, some miscommunication there. Alisson sends the ball forward and Núñez makes the run forward. He leaves the ball for Díaz, maybe thinking he is offside. But Díaz doesn’t know that and the ball drifts forward unclaimed.
79 min: OFF THE POST! It is a great ball in from Robertson and Quansah times his run well and guides it right onto the far post! The flag goes up for offside on one of the forwards.
Updated
78 min: Núñez wins the ball back which earns great cheers from the crowd. A few moments later, Díaz gets pulled back by Doué and the hosts win a dangerous free-kick.
75 min: The last bit of the match has been cagey. The teams have 15 minutes in normal time to make a difference.
74 min: Quansah surges forward on the right and puts a cross in which goes out for a corner. Mac Allister sends the ball in and Quansah attacks the near post and gets the header. There is just too much spin on the ball for it to go on target. Good start for the defender.
73 min: Jota makes way for Núñez and Quansah comes on for Alexander-Arnold, who won’t continue after he hurtled down going all in for a tackle.
70 min: Alexander Arnold and Salah do well to corner Vitinha but the right-back goes tumbling into the advertisement board. He stays there for a few moments before moving a foot onto the pitch. He is not receiving treatment. The replay shows he may have tweaked his ankle.
Updated
67 min: Luis Enrique makes the first change. Doué comes on for Barcola.
66 min: Great ball from Alexander-Arnold and Salah is speeding forward. He is brought down right outside the box from Mendes. The replay shows it is very clearly a foul but because it is outside the box, VAR cannot interfere. The referee has missed a free-kick in a very dangerous area and possible a yellow card.
65 min: Donnarumma has a quick chat with the medics but he will continue. Unclear as to what that was for. Alan Shearer on comms seems to think it was cynical with the goalkeeper trying to “take the sting out of the game”.
Updated
63 min: Donnarumma is waving at the bench while his side go forward and then he goes down to force some treatment.
61 min: Another good block from Pacho and Liverpool win a corner. They are asking more questions now. The ball comes in, it is punched away to Salah who hits one first time. It is speeding on target but Kvaratskhelia makes a huge block! Liverpool need to learn their lesson from the first half and take one of these chances.
58 min: Vitinha is down after an accidental clash of heads with Salah but I think he will be OK to continue. Just before that Szoboszlai attempted a good shot that was blocked by Pacho.
55 min: Wow! The ball is in the back of the net but the flag is up!
Díaz gets the ball up, lays the ball off. Alexander-Arnold takes a shot from outside of the box that Donnarumma parries. Szoboszlai dives in and wants a penalty for a high boot.
Alexander-Arnold shoots again and this one hits the inside of the post. The right-back is the first to react and he runs forward to lay it off to Szoboszlai who pokes it in.
The flag goes up on Díaz, which seems like ages ago in the play.
Updated
52 min: Núñez, Chiesa and Endo warming up for Liverpool. Liverpool get forward with some good passing but Robertson’s cross is intercepted.
50 min: Gravenberch misplaces a pass and PSG win the ball back. They enjoy some mindless possession before Alexander-Arnold wins the ball back.
48 min: Jota wins another foul, this one in the centre of the pitch, after Pacho grabs him around the torso with both arms. PSG certainly starting this half more aggressive.
46 min: Marquinhos gets booked after he grabs Díaz once the Colombian goes past him. He will miss the next match if PSG go through. The resulting free-kick sails into the box but PSG clear.
Second half: Liverpool 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (1-1 on agg)
Some huge half-time talks in both dressing rooms, I am sure. No changes at the break for either side. A big 45 minutes (or more!) to come. Here we go!
The half-time postbag has come in.
Fergus:
Quite a similarity between PSG’s opening goal at Anfield and Southampton’s on Saturday. Both involved a defender getting tangled up with Allison. I suspect it may be the only time Smallbone gets compared with Dembélé.
Kári:
For his entire career, Ousmane Dembélé was like a magician who would perform amazing sleight of hand tricks only to drop his deck of cards all over the floor at the last second. This season he’s pulling aces out of strangers’ pockets and turning kings into jokers. Luis Enrique must be a mentalist, to have accomplished this transformation.
Tommy:
I was curious; if this match ends in a draw, will there be another 30 minutes, or do they go straight to penalty kicks?
Yes, we will have extra-time if the match ends as is and penalties, if needed, after that.
Justin:
This is where you expect Liverpool to be carried to an implausible victory by their history; and PSG to snatch defeat out of the jaws of a clear superiority. But expecting expectations to always meet your expectations is not part of any wise footie fan’s makeup.
Away from the Champions League for a moment: some half-time reading on Liverpool’s neighbours.
Half-time: Liverpool 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (1-1 on agg)
We are locked level at Anfield in this tie. Liverpool showed glimpses that they are a much better team than when they showed in Paris last week but their midfield is a tad too open and PSG, who have been the more composed team, have found joy against the back four.
45 min: We are getting at least one minute of added time. The replay of that potential penalty shows that Ruiz does have a swipe at the Liverpool No 8 but he goes down after a few seconds. No penalty.
44 min: The ball finds Szoboszlai in the box but he goes to ground. Was he fouled? The referee has a pause but does not blow the whistle. The play continues but that is being checked.
43 min: Szoboszlai and Mac Allister combine for a quick 1-2 at the edge of the box but Vitinha’s block comes at a crucial moment.
38 min: Mendes collects the ball in the middle and lays it off to Kvaratskhelia. He has a bit of a shimmy around some red shirts before taking a low shot which is comfortable for Alisson.
36 min: Liverpool surge forward with numbers but the final pass is just miscued and PSG manage to clear.
35 min: Dembélé cuts back to find Kvaratskhelia who takes a shot and the deflection off Gravenberch’s toe is just enough to send it high.
34 min: Salah finds Jota who lets his shot from right outside the box fly but it is a bit over.
32 min: Liverpool lose the ball and PSG go forward. Alexander-Arnold misses his tackle and Dembéle is 1v1 with Alisson. His final touch is a bit loose and Alisson comes out. Big move from the keeper.
Updated
30 min: Clever run from Barcola. Mendes sends a cross-field ball flying but it is just too far for the French forward and the ball dribbles out.
29 min: Some good passes between the Liverpool players before Salah sends a cross in. Donnarumma catches it but then the ball slips from his fingers. Robertson then crosses it from the other side but the keeper collects and keeps the ball this time.
27 min: The referee is having an animated discussion with Van Dijk after he had a word with Robertson.
25 min: Without the ball, Liverpool are set up in a 4-2-4 with Szoboszlai joining the front line but, for now, they are not pressing their opponents.
23 min: Alisson is forced to go long again. PSG doing well with their man-marking to ensure that Liverpool don’t play their game through the middle.
20 min: After a block from a Díaz pass, Barcola comes forward, but Van Dijk tackles the ball off him before he can get in too dangerous of a position.
18 min: Liverpool win another corner and Jota is the one who gets his head on it this time but his effort sails just over the bar.
16 min: PSG surges forward after Alexander-Arnold loses the ball. It is a clever run from Barcola who is all of sudden 1v1 with Alisson but his last touch is a bit heavy and the keeper makes a big save.
Updated
15 min: Konaté has a little look up, sees there are no options and has a go at goal. It is a good strike that Donnarumma has to get down low to save. The resulting corner routine ends in Van Dijk rising but the PSG keeper punches away.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (Dembélé 12; 1-1 on agg)
PSG’s first real chance forward and they score. Dembélé speeds forward centrally to find Barcola. He beats Robertson and sends the ball back to Dembélé. There is a bit of a scurry in front of the net as Konaté tries to clear but the forward pokes it in. Game on!
Updated
9 min: Díaz skims past the defence but his cross is met with a block and Liverpool win their first corner … but first, the referee has a word with Konaté and Vitinha.
Mac Allister sends the ball in and Van Dijk sends a header down. The ball pings around for a bit before Szoboszlai sends a wild shot into the Kop.
6 min: The ball falls to Salah and he manages to evade several defenders before taking a curling shot. He just can’t quite the whip on it and it’s just wide. The forward falls into a heap on the floor in frustration but the crowd are cheering him on. We have seen more from Liverpool in these opening minutes than we did during the full 90 back in Paris.
4 min: HUGE BLOCK! Mac Allister gets the ball into the box and lays it off to a free Salah. The Egyptian takes a shot, and it is heading on target, but the ball bounces off Mendes’ knee. He gets a huge roar from Donnarumma in response.
Updated
2 min: Hakimi knicks the ball off Salah. And then Salah knicks it off him, which generates big cheers. The ball lands to Gravenberch but he is crowded out by navy shirts.
1 min: An early foul by Jota against Hakimi as Liverpool aim to start quickly. Alexander-Arnold tries to find Díaz with a long ball but it is headed away.
Kick-off: Liverpool 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain; agg 1-0
The teams are out, the managers are all smiles, Anfield is rocking and the referee has blown the whistle. Here we go!
You Will Never Walk Alone is being belted by most of the 61,276 at Anfield before the players take to the pitch. Here is a reminder of those teams again before kick-off.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konaté, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Jota, Díaz
Subs: Kelleher, Jaros, Endo, Núñez, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Elliott, Tsimikas, McConnell, Quansah
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Barcola
Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Ramos, Doué, Lee, Hernández, Mayulu, Zaïre-Emery, Beralso, Mbaye
Some more predictions and analysis from the postbag beforekick-off!
Bill:
There’s a very high chance that PSG superfan AND one of the most exciting cyclists of the previous French generation Thibaut Pinot is on Merseyside tonight. If anyone knows about coming from behind, getting a stomp on, climbing that mountain and reaching in to the bag of thrilling heroics to score a victory, it’s him.
It’s going to be great, but Liverpool will get by with a 2-1 win tonight.
Stephen:
Great comparison chart (see 19:12 GMT) but given the generally poor standard of the French Ligue this really does flatter Dembélé!
Michael:
Not sure anyone actually paid attention to what happened in Paris. Liverpool will be unfortunate and I doubt fortune will favor them again. I really see PSG thrashing them tonight.
Kieran:
Those stats remind me of an old Wenger quote: “Liverpool, they never win the league at home, but they do in Europe. Why? Anfield. Home game, return game, this is the most heated stadium in Europe. That’s the only place you don’t want to go.”
State-owned clubs don’t exactly enjoy the warmest of welcomes round there either. Just ask Man City. PSG have their work cut out for them. Gakpo is back. Let’s have a game to make Klopp proud!
The last time these sides met at Anfield … 👁️✋
Updated
The stats do not read well for Paris Saint-Germain. None of the last 15 French sides to play away from home against an English opponent in Europe have managed to win, with 14 of those ending in losses. The last victory was by PSG against Manchester United in 2020-21.
Liverpool, who have won all four of their home Champions League games this season, have progressed from their last 14 knockout stage ties in this competition. The last side to eliminate them after Liverpool took an advantage into the second leg was in 2001-02 against Bayer Leverkusen.
But with all that being said … Luis Enrique’s side were fantastic last week. Mendes stayed tight to Salah all night, who was reduced to 41 touches, no shots and no successful dribbles (from four attempts). The only fault of the Portuguese was switching off when Elliott came off.
PSG also implemented a great press which forced Alisson and Van Dijk to play long (quite unsuccessfully).
Barcelona are closing in on a spot in the quarter-finals. Join Scott Murray for live updates and reaction.
The first pre-match postbag! Some fun analysis, predictions and reminiscing on classic smash-and-grabs.
Peter:
Paris may boast the Eiffel Tower, but it was Alisson who gave a towering eyeful of a performance in the City of Light. May he and the Reds give the French visitors a memorable lesson in Scouse today. Altogether now, ‘Allez allez allez!’
Justin:
The worst European smash-and-grab was the 1975 European Cup Final when Leeds totally outplayed Bayern Munich, had a perfectly good goal ruled out by
Beckenbauerthe referee, had a penalty denied, and somehow were beaten 2-0. It was at PSG’s home ground too. God, it was robbery… 50 years later, and I’m no longer bitter. But I’m still a bit traumatized.
Gary:
Do the Rafa v Jose years count, if both teams were determined to smash and grab in the same game, peaking in the 1-0 Champions League second leg? A game not even decided by a real life score, but a “ghost” goal?*
*Cech would have been sent off, less spoken about as spoils the story.
Kieran:
I wonder if Arne Slot is thinking that this is essentially practice for facing Arsenal next year-with an actual front line, of course. IMO Luis Enrique is the best choice for replacing Arteta, who is probably running on fumes at this point. And, of course, I shall ask that obligatory question at this time: Is Tuchel in the stands?
Unsure if Tuchel, who names his first England squad on Friday, is at Anfield tonight. I will keep an eye out!
Chris:
Predicting a great game no doubt. I think Slot is going to catch them cold, PSG will expect them to attempt to be the normal controlled Liverpool however expect a Klopp style heavy metal start and Liverpool to be two up in the first 20.
The top scorers of their respective leagues come head to head tonight. Neither scored in the first leg. What will their impact be tonight?
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So, both teams field the exact same XI as the first leg.
Slot makes three changes to the Liverpool team that started against Southampton on Saturday: Robertson, Mac Allister and Jota replace Tsimikas, Jones and Núñez. Gakpo is fit enough for the bench after recovering from the ankle knock.
And as expected, Luis Enrique reinstates those eight changes made against victory over Rennes.
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Team news
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konaté, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Jota, Díaz
Subs: Kelleher, Jaros, Endo, Núñez, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Elliott, Tsimikas, McConnell, Quansah
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Barcola
Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Ramos, Doué, Lee, Hernández, Mayulu, Zaïre-Emery, Beralso, Mbaye
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania)
Updated
Team news will be coming shortly, with both sides expected to be fielding their strongest XI tonight.
Slot did confirm that Cody Gakpo will be in contention for the match after coming back from a knock but Tyler Morton (shoulder), Joe Gomez (hamstring) and Conor Bradley (hamstring) will miss out.
During their 3-1 against Southampton, Slot opted to take Dominik Szoboszlai off at half-time and later said he may have made a “mistake” by overworking the Hungarian. Will he hand Harvey Elliott the nod tonight instead?
Luis Enrique’s brings a fully fit squad to Merseyside and opted to rest almost his entire best XI for his side’s meeting with Rennes. Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes and Gianluigi Donnarumma will likely be on the teamsheet after being dropped at the weekend.
PSG’s Luis Enrique has “no doubt” that whoever wins tonight’s tie will be making it to the final, set for 31 May at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Our goal is clear: to try to be better than our opponents. Away matches are always more difficult, but we have confidence in what we do well. We also know what we have to improve. We want to have the ball more than our opponents, and from there, we’ll see what possibilities come about.
One thing is for sure, over the course of the two games we will be seeing two of the best teams in Europe, two contenders to win the Champions League. Whoever wins tomorrow will go through to the final, I’ve no doubt.
Let’s start with what the managers had to say before the tie. The Liverpool head coach, Arne Slot, has branded PSG the most in-form side in Europe and knows his team have to be near-perfect to advance.
I do think so [that the best performance of the season will be needed] because PSG are the most complete team we have faced so far. What I mean by complete is, OK, we have faced Arsenal and City and they are not big margins, but the intensity they played at combined with the quality they have and they are one of the richest clubs. Maybe there is one club a bit further ahead.
They have so much quality and a great manager who has the team playing in a way that is not easy to play against. He brings the best out of every player and brings out an incredible work-rate. We have to be at our best. But we didn’t have ball possession at City away – the other richest club in the world together with Paris Saint-Germain – and at home we had a completely different performance against City.
Preamble
On the flight home from Paris last week, the Liverpool players were likely counting their lucky stars after their 1-0 defeat of Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
It was a classic smash-and-grab, with the hosts dominating for most of the match. Alisson kept the visitors in the match with nine saves and Harvey Elliot ensured the visitors left the French capital with something, scoring moments after he came off the bench, the goal coming completely against the run of play.
The tie is far from over. A hungry PSG side will be keen of righting the loss of last Wednesday while Liverpool will hope to put on a better showing and record another famous night at Anfield under the lights.
With a spot in the quarter-finals is on the line join me for the 8pm GMT/9pm CET kick-off and, as always, feel free to send me an email with any thoughts, predictions, questions, complaints and your favourite Champions League smash-and-grabs.
