Liverpool are edging closer to their Champions League clash with PSG after a rare weekend off.

The Reds were spared a fixture this weekend having crashed out of the FA Cup away at Plymouth Argyle.

After a hectic run of games recently, Arne Slot and the Liverpool squad were likely thankful for the extra rest ahead of facing a rampant PSG team.

The Parisians blew away Lille by beating them 4-1 on Saturday, with manager Luis Enrique comparing Liverpool to Les Dogues.

Cup final, PSG, international break and ONE league game! – Liverpool FC in March	'Good player': Bill Shankly once explained why he actually 'felt sorry' for Man United legend George Best	Former Liverpool player made 'incredible comeback' last night after first game in more than a year - journalist

As he often has been this season, Ousmane Dembele was one of those on the scoresheet for PSG against Lille, registering his 26th goal of what has been a productive campaign.

And as Dembele prepares to face off against Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah, the Reds have been told that the Frenchman is the superior player.

Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images

Dembele is certainly having himself a season.

Having failed to live up to his billing at Barcelona and for much of his time at PSG so far, something has clicked in 2024/25.

If he can continue his current form in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, the 27-year-old will certainly be a rival for Salah in this year’s Ballon d’Or stakes.

MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES

Mavuba, a former France international and a stalwart with Bordeaux and Lille certainly seems to think so, anyway.

In quotes from Foot Mercato, the 40-year-old says if it were a straight choice between having Dembele or Salah in his team, he’s picking his countryman.

READ MORE: PSG’s Ousmane Dembele makes ‘confident’ Liverpool claim ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League showdown

“Today, I’m taking Ousmane Dembele,” says Mavuba.

Because he’s taking a step up and he’s younger.

“But even in a coaching sense, I’m still taking Dembele, because he manages to be decisive, even in key moments.”

Given that they both tend to operate on the right side of their respective attacks, it is unlikely that Dembele and Salah will come directly up against each other over the course of this tie.

AppearancesGoalsAssistsOusmane Dembele2617260Mohamed Salah388241109Dembele vs Salah since Salah’s move to Liverpool 2017/18

However, their similar positions make it easy to compare them.

And, basically, whichever way you look at it, Salah wins out.

Dembele is having a good campaign and is obviously a very good player, but Liverpool’s Egyptian King is on another level.

If ‘being decisive in key moments’ is the criteria you want to go with, then how on earth could anyone win out over Salah?

The proof will be in the pudding on Wednesday and in the return leg at Anfield next Tuesday.