PSG could pile more misery on Reds

When Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool last met in the Champions League a year ago, the Anfield outfit was marching toward the Premier League title and was described as "an almost perfect team" by the French club's coach Luis Enrique.

Fast forward to this season, and a formidable PSG appears a clear favorite as the sides clash again in the Champions League quarterfinals, with the first leg in Paris on Wednesday.

PSG's triumph on penalties against Liverpool in the last 16 last season was pivotal on its run to a first-ever Champions League title.

It had to overturn a 1-0 defeat at home in a first leg it completely dominated before holding its nerve at Anfield, and the two teams have set off on different trajectories since.

Arne Slot's side somewhat ran out of steam after that, albeit having done more than enough to get over the line in the Premier League.

This season has been a huge disappointment, however, and it returns to Paris in especially downbeat mood after a chastening 4-0 defeat against Manchester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals.

'So tough'

That had Slot saying his team lacked fighting spirit, while captain Virgil van Dijk suggested it had given up, and admitted it would be "very difficult" for Liverpool to lift itself against PSG.

"But, we have a responsibility, not only to ourselves, but especially to the fans and, if we want to make something out of this season, we have to try and do something special in the next three games," he said, with the Champions League tie taking place either side of an awkward Premier League clash with Fulham.

"The matter of fact is now, PSG are waiting for us. It will be so tough again. So we have to be ready mentally," Van Dijk added.

Liverpool has won just one of its last five matches and has suffered 15 defeats in this campaign.

Securing a return to Europe's top table for next season has to be the main aim now for a team currently sitting fifth in the Premier League.

PSG, in contrast, has had a tricky season at times due to injuries, but looks like it might be returning to its very best form at the right time.

A 3-1 win over Toulouse on Friday, featuring one marvelous goal from reigning Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele, helped it extend its lead atop Ligue 1 to four points from nearest challenger Lens, with a game in hand.

But, the Champions League is what really matters — the French league even accepted its request to postpone this Saturday's key trip to Lens to allow it to concentrate fully on Liverpool.

"I think we have shown for a long time that we are ready, regardless of the competition, but there are obviously things we can improve," warned Enrique.

Dembele is fully fit and firing, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the inspiration in the last round, when PSG destroyed Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate.

Wednesday's game will be PSG's 14th against Premier League opposition since January 2025.

Ekitike back in Paris

There is one obvious weakness in PSG's ranks, however — it has not successfully replaced goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the hero in last season's shootout against Liverpool who is now at Manchester City.

Lucas Chevalier was signed as the Italian's successor, but has lost his place to Matvey Safonov, the Russian who made two glaring errors to cost his side a goal over the weekend.

"A goalkeeper is like any other player. They can make mistakes, because that's normal in football," said Enrique.

The key for the visiting side, meanwhile, could be Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool's leading scorer this season with 17 goals, who comes up against the club where he failed to make an impact earlier in his career.

Ekitike, 23, joined PSG from Reims in 2022, but scored just four goals in 18 months before leaving for Eintracht Frankfurt.

He struggled to break into an attack featuring Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar, but returns to his homeland as a genuine contender to start for France at the World Cup.

"Hugo is a great player. He is really in form, so we are just hoping he won't be against us," said Dembele, his international teammate.