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Following a seven-day rest period, Liverpool return to action on Wednesday night in the Parc des Princes for the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League last-sixteen tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Reds progressed through to the knockout stages at a canter, winning seven from eight matches of the inaugral League Phase, finishing top and were rewarded for their efforts by being drawn against the runaway league leaders in France who proved far too strong for Stade Brestois in the playoff round.

Ahead of the eagerly-anticipated heavyweight clash in Paris tonight, we have decided to discuss the key on-pitch battles that could determine where the first leg is either won or lost.

Liverpool know that no matter the result, they will be able to bring PSG back to Anfield this time next week, so Arne Slot could opt to take a more measured approach in this one.

ALEXANDER-ARNOLD VS KVARATSKHELIA

Trent Alexander-Arnold will need to be on high alert when coming face-to-face with PSG winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Wednesday.

The Georgian is known to be a tricky talent and when at his very best, can cause many problems faced against some of the top defenders in world football, not just Alexander-Arnold.

Kvaratshkelia’s main attributes have proved to be his speed and dribbling power, whilst having the ability to leave his marker for dead during a split second, which cannot go unnoticed.

Following the £60m move from Napoli in January, the Georgian has failed to hit the ground running in the manner both parties would have hoped, but the winger has managed to contribute, nonetheless.

In Ligue 1, France’s top tier, Kvaratshkelia has scored once in five starts, adding two assists.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will meet again after facing at Anfield in 2022 when Liverpool hosted Napoli.

Photo: Alamy.

As fro Alexander-Arnold, perhaps his best chance of getting the better of the PSG man is with his creativity going forward.

The Englishman has a keen eye and one forward pass can split defences within an instant.

Alexander-Arnold has created 48 chances in the Premier League this season, collecting eight assists and partners Liverpool’s right-hand side with Mohamed Salah.

If Liverpool are to come out on top, then Trent Alexander-Arnold will need to stay switched on, when up against a problematic player in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whilst ensuring to be a threat when the Reds are given opportunities to create.

ROBERTSON VS DEMBELE

Another key matchup will be between full-back and winger, once again, this time, Andy Robertson against Ousmane Dembélè.

For the most part of this season, Robertson has struggled to get the better of his direct winger on more than one occasion, and could be in for another tough night when faced with the difficult task of keeping Dembélé at arms length.

The Frenchman has always been a speedster that can weave in-and-out of the full-back, forcing them to tire and that’s when he is usually found to pounce.

He also provides the ability to turn his defender with the flick of a switch and any slight opening that Robertson offers to the opponent means Liverpool could find themselves in an unwanted position of trouble.

The winger is seen as PSG’s trump-card in their quest for UEFA Champions League glory, netting twenty-six times in thirty-three appearances across all competitions, including six from eight in European competition, a vast improvement on previous seasons where finishing was not viewed as a strong point.

Ousmane Dembélé is effectively their equivalent to Mohamed Salah with both putting up outstanding figures this season.

If Andy Robertson is stop Dembélé, then he must stay tight to the winger in the key moments and not allow his opponent to come inside onto his favoured left-foot, otherwise the Reds will be at risk of conceding a worrying goal-scoring opportunity.

MAC ALLISTER VS VITINHA

The midfield battle is where this two-legged tie will most likely be decided.

Liverpool and PSG have young trios in the middle of the park, that all work so well together.

Alexis Mac Allister and Vitinha are required to go to extreme lengths to help their team and are very underrated in what they do.

For Arne Slot and Luis Enrique, they are considered the glue that forms everything into place and without, both sides cannot function in the same way.

Mac Allister’s ball-carrying and composure in tight areas is what makes him key to this Liverpool team.

Many times already this season, have the Reds felt under the cosh but have been able to weather whichever storm due to the Argentine retaining possession and slowing the game down.

Mac Allister can also pose a real threat when Liverpool do go forward, notching up nine goal contributions this term.

For PSG, Vitinha is their key component in the midfield.

When speaking to Youtube’s ‘The Redmen TV’, Julien Laurens was quizzed on the Portuguese engine.

“I think Vitinha is the one that makes this team click nd everything goes through him.”

“As much as I would love him to stay forever at PSG, he can go to a better club like Liverpool, without a doubt.”

SALAH VS MENDES

PSG’s Nuno Mendes will have the tricky task of trying to stop the most in-form player in world football, Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool’s ‘Egyptian King’ has accumulated an astonishing fifty-two goal contributions, posing potentially the greatest season of his Reds career so far, and is on course for setting the greatest-ever individual season in the Premier League.

Mohamed Salah in competition with Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol last month.

David Rawcliffe/Propaganda.

Salah can have joy against anyone, so for his case, it most likely does not matter who he faces up against with the statistics speaking for themselves, causing havoc to every right-hand side of defence this campaign.

It would not come as a surprise if Achraf Hakimi is asked to move flanks to deal with the threat of Salah, as the Moroccan is considered a better defender than Mendes.

Salah and Hakimi are both familiar to each other’s playing-style with the pair frequently meeting at the Africa Cup of Nations, for their respective countries.

The last time Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain met in the Champions League was at the Group Stage in November 2018.

The Parisiens came away from the Parc des Princes that night as 2-1 victors, whilst Liverpool stole the three points at Anfield courtesy of some late Roberto Firmino magic, winning 3-2.

It was of course the same year that the Reds managed to secure a sixth UEFA Champions League triumph, which could prove a good omen ahead of the two-legged tie.

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