Liverpool chase a 2-0 turnaround at Anfield as PSG head to Merseyside with a cushion
Liverpool need a proper European night. A 2-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes last Wednesday left Arne Slot's side with a hole to climb out of, and PSG come to Anfield on Tuesday evening with the air of a side who have figured out how to beat the reigning champions. Kick off is 8pm BST.
Two-goal first-leg holes are rarely overturned in the Champions League, and Slot's side have to do it without their first-choice goalkeeper and, very likely, without one of their more reliable midfielders.
Alisson out, Jones a major doubt
Alisson has been ruled out with the hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined for weeks, with Giorgi Mamardashvili set to start his second match in the tie. Slot confirmed the Brazilian is not yet training with the group and will not feature. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are all still out.
Curtis Jones is another problem. The midfielder picked up a groin issue in Saturday's win over Fulham and was withdrawn at half time. Slot has said he would be surprised if Jones is available for Tuesday, which leaves the manager juggling options in a position where Liverpool cannot afford to lose quality.
Alexander Isak is edging closer to full sharpness after his long injury layoff. The record signing has come off the bench in each of the last two games, but Hugo Ekitike is expected to keep the starting spot after being rested for Saturday's win over Fulham. That still leaves Slot an attacking weapon from the bench when the tie might need changing.
PSG arrive with momentum and a problem solved
Luis Enrique's team were excellent in Paris. Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia got the goals, Liverpool did not manage a shot on target, and PSG barely had to get out of third gear in the second half. The French champions are also handling the build-up to this one from a position of strength, with Bradley Barcola back in training after his ankle issue.
Fabian Ruiz and Quentin Ndjantou are the only absentees of any note for the visitors. That is a good problem to have with a two-goal cushion, because it means Enrique can rotate his starting XI without dropping off on quality and still keep Barcola in reserve if he needs a game-changer.
What Slot has to fix
The first leg was a rare flat night for Liverpool. Slot set up with a back five to contain PSG and watched his forwards produce nothing in the final third. A fix starts with getting Mohamed Salah into the game, ideally from the first whistle rather than the bench, and finding a way for Ekitike to actually receive the ball in areas where he can hurt people.
Anfield has turned ties around before, and the crowd will do its part. The tactical puzzle is a harder one. PSG have pace on both wings and the kind of midfield control that allowed them to kill the game in Paris without ever really stretching themselves. Liverpool have to take risks, because a cagey start will not suddenly produce two goals.
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