Image Credits: Imago Images
There is no hiding from the scale of the task facing Liverpool as they prepare for a decisive UEFA Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
This quarter-final arrives at a difficult moment for Liverpool, and the numbers behind PSG’s form make the challenge even clearer.
PSG are not just winning games. They are controlling them.
They average 63.5% possession, which is the highest in the competition, and it shows how they suffocate opponents in midfield.
Their pass accuracy of 91.25% means they rarely lose the ball in dangerous areas, which limits counter-attacks from players like Mohamed Salah.
In attack, they have scored 34 goals in the Champions League, averaging 2.84 per match and that level of output presents a serious test for any defence.
The intensity without the ball is just as strong as the current UEFA Champions League holders have recovered 479 balls this season, which reflects their aggressive counter-press under Luis Enrique.
They also carry speed in transition, with wide threats like Ousmane Dembele capable of reaching 36.3 km/h.
Liverpool arrive in a very different place.
The 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City exposed defensive gaps that were punished by Erling Haaland.
Arne Slot must now fix those issues quickly, as against a team with PSG’s control and attacking numbers, any repeat of that performance could be costly.
According to L’Equipe via Actu Foot, PSG are expected to name a strong and balanced starting XI.
Matvei Safonov is set to start in goal behind a defence of Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho and Nuno Mendes.
The midfield trio of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Warren Zaire-Emery will look to control the tempo.
Vitinha in particular has been a major threat, with six Champions League goals and a 95% pass accuracy that highlights his efficiency in possession.
Further forward, PSG’s attack will likely feature Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué and Dembele.
Dembele has been especially dangerous, recording 14 goals and seven assists this season while averaging a goal involvement every 82 minutes.
Kvaratskhelia has also created 12 clear-cut chances in just three months, showing his ability to unlock defences.
There is one boost for Liverpool.
Bradley Barcola, who starred in the previous round, is ruled out with a sprained ankle, and his absence shifts PSG’s attack from pure pace to a more controlled approach.
From a Liverpool perspective, the warning signs are clear.
PSG’s control in midfield, combined with their attacking output, means the battle in the centre of the pitch could decide the tie.
If Liverpool cannot match that intensity and precision, this could turn into another long European night.
🚨 𝗟𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗗𝗨 𝗣𝗦𝗚 𝗣𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗔̀ 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗜 ! ⭐️❤️💙
🗞️ @lequipe pic.twitter.com/duv9DKdkGV
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) April 6, 2026
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