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Luis ENRIQUE head Coach of Paris Saint-Germain during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Lyon and Paris at Groupama Stadium on February 23, 2025(Image: Philippe Lecoeur/FEP/Icon Sport via Getty Images)

Arne Slot’s Liverpool begin their Champions League knockout campaign with a trip to France to face one of Europe’s in-form teams in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain.

Luis Enrique’s Parisians are in red-hot form, they have gone unbeaten in all competitions since a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the league phase of Europe’s biggest competition.

Like Liverpool, the French giants are 13 points clear at the top of Ligue Un, crushing Lille 4-1 in their most recent fixture.



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A first half rout, in which Enrique’s team put four past Lille, was the 12th time the French side has scored four goals in the first half since 2011-12.

Club captain Marquinhos, told L’Equipe: “It’s a perfect scenario before a match like Liverpool.

We are in great shape, some players have returned to the team, all the lights are green.

“I don’t know if we sent a message today, our very good form has been going on for a while now.

We really wanted to prepare very well for the Champions League and that’s what we did.”

Many believe this is the first PSG team during the Qatar without a superstar, previously they have always featured a world renowned name, from Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Neymar Jr and even Lionel Messi.

It seems that without the team being focused on a sole player shoehorned into the squad, Enrique has built a side that has excelled, with players that have struggled in the past, most notably Ousmane Dembele.

The former Barcelona winger will stick out in the minds of Reds’ fans, as he missed a golden opportunity to put a fourth past Alisson in Liverpool’s 3-0 first leg defeat to the Blaugrana in 2019.

The Frenchman, however, has excelled since making the switch to his homeland, Dembele has 26 goals and 6 assists in 33 games this season, growing into the focal point of a youthful, but devastating PSG attack.

Alongside the tricky winger, Bradley Barcola has 18 goal involvements in 24 matches this season for the Parisians, and with the £59 million acquisition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Luis Enrique will have a selection headache over his dangerous front line.

The most interesting matchup of the tie will be the middle of the park between Liverpool and PSG’s technically focused midfield.

PSG have a gifted trio, which includes Euros surprise package Fabian Ruiz, geared towards ball progression in the final third to provide support to the front line.

Players such as Joao Neves and Ruiz help amplify PSG’s press, which was seen in their triumph over Lille.

The forwards press high on the oppositions defence while playing out of the back, while the midfield goes man-to-man with the opposing midfield to force a long ball.

The final midfielder of the preferred trio is French youngster Desire Doue, who can play across the whole forward line as well as in the middle of the park.

This leaves Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes and either Willian Pacho or Lucas Beraldo at the back.

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However, the backline isn’t one of great stature, club captain Marquinhos is only six foot and has a 48% aerial duel win rate.