Liverpool take on current UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes tonight – and eight players could miss the game
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique(Image: (FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images))
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Alexander Isak has been named in the Liverpool squad for tonight’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Paris Saint-Germain after 15 weeks on the sidelines. The forward returned to first-team training last week but was left out of the squad for the 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.
However, Isak is now in line to return to action for the first time since he broke a bone in his leg when being challenged by Micky van de Ven during his side’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur just before Christmas. Speaking on Tuesday night, Arne Slot confirmed that Isak won’t start, but he could feature at the Parc des Princes.
"He finished close to a week of team training sessions; he can play a part, otherwise I wouldn't take him,” Slot said.
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"I didn't take him to the Etihad because we felt he wasn't able to get a performance yet. We think we can get a performance out of him now, but not to start."
However, Liverpool will be without Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic and Giovanni Leoni for the game.
Alisson is expected to return before the end of the season, but Bradley, Endo, Bajcetic and Leoni are not expected to return until next season.
"He will not be part of the Paris Saint-Germain games as well,” Slot said last week when asked about Alisson. “He will be out for a bit longer. Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit again."
Arne Slot and Alisson
Arne Slot and Alisson(Image: Paul Ellis/AFP)
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Meanwhile, PSG are expected to be without Bradley Barcola, Fabian Ruiz and Quentin Ndjantou for the game.
Although the Ligue 1 champions confirmed on Tuesday that Barcola is back in full training and is working his way back to full fitness, it is being reported in the French press that the forward won’t be risked.
But speaking on Tuesday, Luis Enrique said: "If he’s [Barcola] still unwell, he won’t play tomorrow. “He had a partial training session yesterday and a full session today.
Arne Slot of Liverpool embraces Luis Enrique of Paris Saint-Germain, prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield
Arne Slot of Liverpool embraces Luis Enrique of Paris Saint-Germain, prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield (Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
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“He’s coming back. We’re finding the best conditions. He’ll tell us when he’s ready. He’s lacking a little confidence.”
On the game, Enrique said: "We're going to try to have the ball more than Liverpool, a very good team with quality players and a very good coach. 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."