Champion jealously guards the trophy – PSG on the charge steamrolls a broken Liverpool

Liverpool travel to Paris on Wednesday night for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, facing a formidable challenge if they hope to keep their European hopes alive. Arne Slot’s side will need more than flashes of brilliance to overcome a team that has dominated Europe recently.

Just over a year ago, the Reds pulled off a memorable 1-0 victory at Parc des Princes, inspired by Harvey Elliott, only for Luis Enrique’s PSG to respond at Anfield with a penalty shootout win. Since then, Liverpool’s form has been patchy.

They have won only half of their 58 matches across all competitions this season, a far cry from the 74.4% success rate under Slot’s previous 43 games. Away form has been particularly troubling: four defeats in their last five outings, the only win coming against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Recent setbacks have been harsh. Consecutive games in blue against Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City ended badly, with the latter producing a humiliating 4-0 FA Cup defeat, highlighted by an Erling Haaland hat-trick and a clever Antoine Semenyo finish.

Nightmare before Easter and total destruction! Monsters under Liverpool's bed - Man City & Erling Haaland!

Virgil van Dijk’s admission that Liverpool “gave up” at the Etihad only underlined the concerns surrounding a squad that has suffered 15 defeats across all competitions this season—their worst tally since Brendan Rodgers’ 2014-15 campaign—and managed just one win from their last five matches, albeit a commanding Champions League victory against Galatasaray in the last-16 second leg.

By contrast, PSG are thriving. After lifting their first Champions League title last season with a stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter in Munich, Luis Enrique’s side remain a dominant force. Their recent 8-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea in the round of 16 highlighted their firepower, and they are now firmly in control of the Ligue 1 title race, emphasizing the gulf between the sides heading into this quarter-final.

Liverpool will take some positives from recent fixtures: Mohamed Salah, Federico Chiesa, and Jeremie Frimpong are back in full fitness. Alexander Isak, sidelined since Christmas with a broken leg, is not yet ready to return.

Salah is set to start in Paris, but PSG’s Bradley Barcola, recovering from an ankle sprain, has been ruled out. Fabian Ruiz remains sidelined with a knee injury, and teenage attacker Quentin Ndjantou is also unavailable, though Senny Mayulu—one of PSG’s scorers against Chelsea in the last-16—has returned to training following a minor calf problem.

Slot faces an uphill battle. Liverpool’s struggles this term, combined with PSG’s experience and depth, make them clear underdogs. Yet football often thrives on surprises, and any hope for the Reds will rest on replicating the kind of magic they conjured in Paris just over a year ago.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUARTER FINALS

First leg

Tuesday

Real Madrid - Bayern Munich 1-2 (0-1)

/Mbappe 74 - Diaz 41, Kane 46/

Sporting Lisbon - Arsenal 0-1 (0-0)

/Havertz 90+1/

Wednesday

22.00: (1.55) Barcelona (5.00) Atl.Madrid (5.10)

22.00: (1.75) PSG (4.20) Liverpool (4.30)

***odds are subject to change***