Arne Slot Liverpool manager
Arne Slot Liverpool
Liverpool secured a crucial 1-0 victory over PSG in Paris last week, and now they welcome Luis Enrique’s side to Anfield for the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Tuesday night.
The two-legged tie remains delicately poised, with Liverpool narrowly escaping with a win thanks to the heroics of Alisson Becker. While the Reds will have the home advantage this week, PSG showed their quality in the first leg, and if they replicate that performance, Arne Slot’s side will have a tough challenge ahead.
Liverpool go into this game unbeaten in their last seven matches, and they have not drawn their previous three meetings against PSG. Arne Slot’s side are running away from Arsenal in the Premier League title race but things won’t be so simple and easy-going in midweek against a strong and well-rounded PSG team.
Liverpool Team News and Injuries:
Liverpool have four players unavailable for the second leg with Cody Gakpo, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, and Tyler Morton are all ruled out.
Arne Slot named a full-strength lineup in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Southampton at the weekend but did rest key players like Alexis Mac Allister and Andy Robertson, ensuring they are fresh for Tuesday’s second leg.
Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch have been instrumental in central midfield, and their role in controlling PSG’s attacking threats will be crucial. In the No. 10 role, Curtis Jones and Szoboszlai have rotated, but given that Szoboszlai started in the first leg, he is likely to get the nod again.
In attack, Darwin Nunez is expected to start ahead of Diogo Jota, who has struggled for form in recent months. While Jota’s last goal came in January, Nunez found the net against Southampton and should retain his place.
Mo Salah remains Liverpool’s talisman in European competition, with an astonishing 54 goal contributions (G/A) in just 41 appearances this season. Stopping the Egyptian will be a top priority for Luis Enrique’s defense and if they can keep him in check, Liverpool might find it hard to gather inspiration in the final third.
Although Harvey Elliott made a decisive impact off the bench in the first leg, the 21-year-old is unlikely to start on Tuesday.
Liverpool’s Predicted Lineup vs. PSG
Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Szoboszlai
Forwards: Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz