Match Preview: Liverpool Face ‘Impressive’ PSG in UEFA Champions League Last-16 | OneFootball

PSG v Liverpool – UEFA Champions League Last 16 – 1st Leg Preview

Date – 5th March 2025

Venue – Parc des Princes

Kick-off – 20.00

After a brief rest from the frenetic domestic schedule, Liverpool resume their Champions League pursuit with a trip to Paris, where a tantalizing encounter against the capital club of France awaits Arne Slot and his title-chasing men.

PSG Team News

PSG manager Luis Enrique will be hosting the six-time European champions with potentially a full squad of players, as Warren Zaire-Emery returned to the first-team squad this past weekend. No other issues have surfaced regarding player availability.

In terms of recent form, the French club recorded an emphatic 4-1 over visiting Lille at the weekend, after an impressive 3-2 win away to Lyon to solidify their ongoing title ambitions. Progression into the next round of the French Cup was undertaken with a crushing 0-7 win away to Stade Briochin, as domestic dominance continued for the serial winners. Before this upcoming Champions League first-leg tie, PSG best Brest over two legs with an aggregate score of 10-0 to move safely into the last sixteen. After 24 games played in Ligue 1, 62 points have been secured as they look set to win yet another domestic league championship.

The predicted lineup for the Ligue 1 Giants in a 4-3-3 formation. An attacking imprint will be delivered on this intriguing Champions League night, as a place in the quarter-final awaits the winner of this superb midweek tie.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lucas Beraldo, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Liverpool Team News

Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez who has sustained a hamstring injury, one that could keep him sidelined for much of the remainder of the season. Tyler Morton is injured for an undetermined period and Conor Bradley has also sustained a hamstring strain that could keep him sidelined until after the upcoming international break.

The Reds most recent 2-0 home victory to Newcastle came after their superb 0-2 win over Manchester City, following a solid 2-2 draw at Villa Park. Before that the Reds recorded a 2-1 home win against Wolves. With 28 matches played, Liverpool currently tops the Premier League standings with an outstanding 67-point tally.

Here is the expected lineup that Arne Slot will field for this away match against a team fighting to attain European recognition. The need to bed in and absorb pressure may allow a more counter-attacking game plan.

Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk (c), Andy Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, Luis Díaz, Curtis Jones

How Will This Contest Play Out?

Liverpool is expected to endorse a similar system to that which thwarted the attacking endeavour of Manchester City a few weeks ago. Patience and determination will be required to stem the offensive flow of the hosts, which may lead to a score draw. The pace and power of Dominik Szoboszlai will be vital to any success.

Player to Watch: Dominik Szoboszlai

Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

PSG 2 – 2 Liverpool