PSG and Liverpool to play another thriller

Champions League | Preview

28/11/18

PSG and Liverpool to play another thriller

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Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool played a five-goal thriller at Anfield on Champions League matchday 1. The Reds eked out a victory in second half stoppage-time to claim a 3-2 win.

The match was mostly dominated by Liverpool despite their inability to score chances to put the game away. Now, with qualification to the knockout stage on the line, Liverpool travel to Paris to play a game that could make or break their Champions League campaign.

Thomas Tuchel announced on Sunday that PSG stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe will be fit to face Liverpool. The duo was injured during the most recent international break and it was originally feared they would miss matchday 5. PSG’s medical team has been working around the clock on the pair to get them ready for the crunch fixture. Now, it appears they will both play.

Neymar and Mbappe sat out the team’s weekend win over Toulouse. Without their two stars, however, PSG struggled to hit the heights they have been known for in France this term. PSG gutted out a 1-0 win despite being outshot 11-9 (3-2 on target).

Liverpool warmed up for the Champions League with a 3-0 win over Watford. The Reds’ front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane have suddenly hit form at the same time. Salah and Firmino found the back of the net while Mane recorded his first two assists of the season. Despite the 3-0 scoreline, it took Liverpool until the second half to break Watford down. The intensity will be dialled up at the Parc des Princes and Liverpool must start well to gain victory.

Jurgen Klopp’s team nullified Neymar in their previous meeting leaving the Brazilian frustrated. PSG looked average at Anfield and lacked tactical knowledge of how to break Liverpool down. Perhaps Tuchel’s side was naïve believing they could simply overpower Liverpool. Matchday 5 will be wholly different and PSG should be far better prepared.

Champions League Group C is wide open and any of the four teams can qualify for the knockout stage. A Liverpool win, along with a Napoli win against Red Star, would seal progress for the Reds. If PSG win along with Napoli, then the group would go down to the final matchday. Liverpool will finish the Champions League group stage against Napoli at home and could still go through if they lose to PSG. It would come down to goal difference, however.

PSG have dominated teams at home this term. They have won each Ligue 1 fixture at the Parc des Prince and humiliated Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, 6-1. Napoli were able to score goals and leave with a 2-2 draw. That came thanks to an Angel di Maria second half stoppage-time goal to prevent Napoli from winning. Liverpool will score on Wednesday night, but PSG should have Neymar and Mbappe back and both will have plenty to prove. PSG are the bookies’ favourite and they will win another close encounter against Liverpool with plenty of goals scored.