Liverpool vs PSG: Can the Reds Overturn 2-0 Champions League Deficit at Anfield?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Slot Under Pressure to Adjust Liverpool Tactics After Paris Setback
The first team to book their spot in the final four of this season's UEFA Champions League will be decided tonight when Liverpool face off against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their quarter-final tie under the lights at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s side enter tonight’s blockbuster needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit after a toothless showing last week at the Parc des Princes, where Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave the reigning UCL champions the lead in this tie and confirmed our Champions League predictions.
Most from a neutral perspective will agree that the Reds are fortunate to only be two goals down, as they were completely outplayed in their changed-up formation with five at the back last week, as they also failed to register a single shot on target
That was the first time Liverpool failed to record a shot on target in the UCL since the 2020-21 quarter-finals against Real Madrid!
Indeed, the Parc des Princes has been a barren hunting ground for the English Champions in the last two seasons. The Parisiens dominated the Reds on home turf in the Round of 16 last term before completing the job at Anfield en route to their first continental title.
Liverpool to Rely on Anfield Magic to Fuel Champions League Comeback
Despite the massive task ahead of Liverpool tonight, they will return to Merseyside knowing history and atmosphere are firmly on their side. The Reds have built a reputation for producing some of their most famous European nights on home soil, as detailed in our Liverpool vs PSG prediction.
Slot’s side comfortably overturned a 1-0 deficit with a 4-0 victory at Anfield last month to send Galatasaray crashing out of the competition. That result was also their sixth clean sheet in their last eight UCL home games, and shutting out PSG in this match will be key to their chances of progressing.
Looking further back, the Reds also came back from three goals down in their semi-final against Barcelona in 2018-19 with a 4-0 victory at home, where Trent Alexander-Arnold and Divock Origi linked up from a corner that is still widely considered one of Liverpool’s most famous UCL goals.
Another stat that will add to Scousers’ belief that their side can turn this tie is that in 18 home matches against French opposition, Liverpool have racked up 14 wins and one draw. Only Marseille in 2008, Lyon in 2009, and PSG last season have left Anfield victorious.
However, history also shows that the Reds have not fared well when attempting to overcome a two-goal or more deficit from an away European first leg. In such instances, they have only progressed on two of 13 occasions - against Auxerre (1991) and Barcelona (2019).
Liverpool vs. PSG: Key Stats Comparison
| Liverpool | Stat | PSG |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Games Played | 13 |
| 24 | Goal | 36 |
| 85 | Shots on Target | 96 |
| 18 | Assists | 25 |
| 11 | Goals conceded | 17 |
| 5 | Clean sheets | 4 |
| 4,610 | Successful passes | 7,912 |
Salah to start second leg clash against PSG?
After a disappointing performance in the FA quarter-final against Manchester City, Slot started the match in Paris without Mohamed Salah and opted to leave the Egyptian as an unused substitute despite making five substitutions, including bringing on 18-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni.
However, many Reds fans are of the belief that removing Salah from the team does not solve any problems; it only adds to them. Indeed, despite his dip in form this season, the 33-year-old has racked up 20 goal contributions and was key to their 4-0 victory over Gala in the last round.
Salah gave Slot a timely reminder of his quality last weekend when he converted a crisp first-time strike against Fulham. Regardless of the underlying issues between them, it feels imperative that the Liverpool boss gives Salah the chance to add another memorable chapter to his incredible career at Anfield tonight.
Another factor adding to calls for the Reds’ third-highest scorer in history to start tonight is that his inclusion may force the excellent Nuno Mendes to think twice before pushing forward as freely as he did at home last week, which could in turn ease the pressure on Liverpool’s right-back.
