Luis Enrique has named an unchanged 22-man squad for PSG’s Champions League round-of-16 second leg at Liverpool on Tuesday night.
The Parisians trail 1-0 on aggregate after Harvey Elliott’s late winner at the Parc des Princes last week. Despite dominating possession, PSG were unable to break down Liverpool, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker making a record nine saves to secure the vital win for the Reds.
Also read:Adidas and Liverpool reunite in lucrative multi-year kit deal.
Enrique’s PSG masterplan: Liverpool beware
As per Liverpool Echo, for PSG’s 4-1 victory over Rennes on Saturday, Enrique made eight changes to his starting XI.
Bradley Barcola, Willian Pacho, and Joao Neves were the only players to retain their spots from the loss to Liverpool. Key players such as Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha, and Nuno Mendes were all used as substitutes, with none of them playing more than 25 minutes.
Fabian Ruiz and Gianluigi Donnarumma were unused substitutes, while captain Marquinhos was left out of the squad entirely. However, all eight players who were rested for Rennes have been named in the travelling squad for the crucial second leg at Anfield.
This confirms that Enrique’s lineup decisions were not due to injury or fitness concerns, but rather strategic planning for the clash against Liverpool.
“Of course, I think about Liverpool”
Enrique had previously stated that he had not been thinking about the Reds ahead of the Rennes match. However, he later admitted that he had been focused on the tie since the draw. Enrique said,
“I lied to you. Of course, I think about Liverpool, like everyone else.
The first leg leaves us no options: we have to win, that’s the objective. Nothing will change compared to the other matches, we play to win.”
With the second leg at Anfield shaping up to be a thrilling encounter, both teams will be hungry for victory.
With both teams boasting world-class talent, the match promises to be an exciting spectacle. With PSG needing a strong response and Liverpool aiming to defend their slim lead, the stage is set for a thrilling night of Champions League action.
Also Read: Yet another record Liverpool talisman could break this season
Sai Akshay
I'm a football enthusiast and an avid writer and someone who lives by the Bill Shankly quote, on a day to day basis.