Champions League Preview: PSG vs. Liverpool | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain host Liverpool in their first leg of the Champions League quarter-final this week, and Arne Slot’s side will have bad memories of the last time they met.

Slot is under pressure to deliver more success following his side’s poor defense of their Premier League title and a tie against the reigning French and European champions could be a nightmare for the Dutch coach.

This Time Last Year

Their last meeting was at the Round of 16 stage in March 2025. Liverpool finished top of the group stage but were drawn to face PSG as the French side had a disappointing group campaign and ended up finishing 15th.

The game was tied 1-1 after two legs and went to penalties, where PSG won. They then of course went on to have a brilliant end to their campaign and won the Champions League, beating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final.

For Slot and his men it was simply bad fortune that they drew PSG so early in the competition. Liverpool themselves had a great season, winning the Premier League, and many felt they could have done something special in the UCL too.

A Very Different Situation

But this time around, things could not be more different for the English side. They are in very poor form and have won only two of their last seven games in all competitions.

They are coming off the back of a soggy display and exit in the FA Cup quarterfinals, where they lost 4-0 to Manchester City. The scoreline and City’s domination in the game seemed to mark the end of the rivalry between the two clubs that has spanned the last decade or so in English football, and for many Liverpool fans the game has marked the end of their trust in Slot.

The Dutchman has endured a difficult season after a summer where the club spent around $600 million on players. Instead of defending their title, they are currently fifth in the league, 21 points off first-placed Arsenal.

Pressure has been gradually growing on Slot and more and more fans are losing faith in the 47-year-old. Despite winning the Premier League less than 12 months ago, he does not seem to have much faith in the bank and the calls for him to be sacked are growing louder.

PSG On Fire

It seems that he will be given at least the PSG games, but the French side are in frightening form. They have lost only twice in all competitions since January 21 and beat Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16.

Chelsea were absolutely no match for Luis Enrique’s side and the two legs felt like a sign of things to come from the Parisians. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was imperious, Bradley Barcola shone, and the midfield duo of João Neves and Vitinha passed Chelsea into submission.

With PSG nearing their scary best right as we come towards the business end of the season, and with Liverpool in such poor form, and this game being in Paris, it will take something special for the Reds to come away unscathed.