PSG Poised to Increase Liverpool’s Woes as Luis Enrique’s Side Emerges as Favourites

This time around, PSG stand as formidable favourites as the two teams meet once more in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the first leg scheduled for Paris on Wednesday.

PSG’s penalty shootout victory over Liverpool in the last 16 of the previous season played a crucial role in their journey towards clinching their inaugural Champions League title.

They managed to turn around a 1-0 home defeat from the first leg, one they dominated, before holding steady at Anfield. Since then, the two teams’ paths have diverged significantly.

After their previous triumph, Arne Slot’s squad seemed to lose momentum, despite having done more than enough to secure their Premier League position.

However, this season has been a major letdown, and they arrive in Paris in a particularly glum state following a heavy 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

‘So challenging’

Following the defeat, Slot mentioned his team’s lack of fighting spirit, while captain Virgil van Dijk suggested they might have thrown in the towel, admitting it will be “very difficult” for Liverpool to rally against PSG.

“However, we have a responsibility not only to ourselves but especially to the fans. If we are to salvage something from this season, we must aim to achieve something remarkable in the next three matches,” he stated, with the Champions League tie looming alongside a tricky encounter with Fulham.

“The reality is that PSG are awaiting us. It will be incredibly tough once again, so we must be mentally prepared as soon as possible,” Van Dijk added.

Liverpool has managed only one win in their last five outings and has faced 15 losses this season.

The primary objective now should be securing a return to European competition for the next season, as they currently sit fifth in the Premier League.

Contrastingly, PSG have faced challenges this season, largely due to injuries, yet they seem to be regaining their peak form at a crucial juncture.

A 3-1 victory against Toulouse last Friday, highlighted by a stunning goal from reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, has allowed them to stretch their lead in Ligue 1 to four points over nearest rivals Lens, with a game in hand.

Nonetheless, the Champions League is paramount — the French league even granted their request to postpone a key fixture against Lens to allow them to focus entirely on Liverpool.

“I believe we have demonstrated for a significant time that we are prepared, regardless of the competition, although there are certainly areas for improvement,” cautioned Luis Enrique.

Dembele is now fully fit and in good form, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was instrumental in the last round, where PSG dispatched Chelsea with an 8-2 aggregate score — the upcoming match will mark their 14th encounter with Premier League teams since January 2025.

Ekitike returns to Paris

However, PSG does have a noticeable vulnerability — they have struggled to replace goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the hero of last season’s penalty shootout against Liverpool, who is now at Manchester City.

Lucas Chevalier was brought in as his successor, but he has been usurped by Matvey Safonov, the Russian goalkeeper who made two critical errors resulting in a goal against them over the weekend.

“A goalkeeper is just like any other player; mistakes are a part of the game,” noted Luis Enrique.

For Liverpool, however, Hugo Ekitike may prove decisive. He is their top scorer this season with 17 goals and will be facing his former club where he struggled to find his footing earlier in his career.

Ekitike, 23, transferred to PSG from Reims in 2022 but managed only four goals in 18 months before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Struggles to break into a forward line featuring Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar led to his departure, yet he returns to his homeland as a viable contender for the World Cup squad.

“Hugo is an excellent player. He’s in great form right now, and we just hope he won’t shine against us,” commented Dembele, his international teammate.