PSG boss Luis Enrique downplays recent Liverpool disasters ahead of Champions League clash | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique is not reading too much into Liverpool's FA Cup humiliation at Manchester City and expects a "difficult" Champions League clash against Arne Slot's side.

The misfiring Premier League champions are under the spotlight after Saturday lunchtime's 4-0 shellacking at the Etihad Stadium compounded a 2-1 loss at Brighton before the international break.

Liverpool's performance in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to City was arguably the poorest of Slot's reign and the worst possible preparation for Wednesday's Champions League trip to holders PSG.

The perennial French champions edged past the Reds on penalties in last season's round of 16 and Enrique is braced for a tough test despite the visitors' recent struggles.

"We're going to try to have the ball more than Liverpool, a very good team with quality players and a very good coach," the PSG boss said. "It'll be difficult.

"In the quarter-finals, it's naturally a special game, because there are just eight teams.

"When you start to get used to being at this level, it's great as a team. It's of course positive to be able to show it against Liverpool. What we want is to qualify.

"We're aware of the difficulty but we're motivated. We want to enjoy playing at the Parc."

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Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup in humiliating fashion (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

PSG will be without Bradley Barcola and Fabian Ruiz for the first leg at the Parc des Princes, where Harvey Elliott, now on loan at Aston Villa, fired Liverpool to a barely believable 1-0 win last term.

Alisson Becker's inspired performance provided the platform for a smash-and-grab victory that still rankles 13 months on, despite the fact Enrique's men progressed from the tie and went on to win the competition.

"On Wednesday it'll be important to show that desire to play football, to enjoy the Parc, the fans, the atmosphere," the PSG head coach said.

"It's the most important thing for us and our fans: to give 100 per cent. What will the result be? We'll see.

"Last season, we put in one of our best performances, but we lost. Liverpool were favourites, and PSG qualified. There's no favourite at this stage of the competition.

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Liverpool were victors in this fixture last season thanks to Alisson Becker’s heroics (Getty Images)

"It's important to look to control what we can control. Liverpool are a very high-level team and to think you're the favourites is the best way to make a mess of things.

"It's not important to know who's the favourite in this competition, in this kind of game. It's impossible that there's a favourite. For me, there isn't one."

PSG are fourth favourites with the bookmakers to win this season's Champions League and ever-impressive midfielder Vitinha echoed his coach's sentiments ahead of the Liverpool tie.

"Everyone knows football well enough to know that in this sort of game there is no favourite," the Portugal star said. "It's Liverpool, a great team with great players, anything can happen.

"There are two big games to play, at the Parc and in Liverpool. We know we'll be at 100 per cent and one thing is certain: we'll play to win the game, because that's what we want to do every time."