Liverpool vs PSG | Champions League | Round of 16 | 1st Leg | Pre Match
Liverpool vs PSG
Two of Europe’s most formidable teams, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, are set to collide on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of a blockbuster UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie, pitting two sides in scintillating form against each other in what promises to be a clash of titans. Both clubs are dominating their respective domestic leagues, with PSG holding a commanding 13-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 following a 4-1 thrashing of Lille on Saturday, while Liverpool, despite a weekend off after their surprising FA Cup exit to Plymouth Argyle last month, sit equally dominant atop the Premier League with an identical 13-point cushion. This matchup not only brings together two teams cruising toward domestic titles but also spotlights a head-to-head duel between two of the continent’s most lethal attackers: Mohamed Salah for Liverpool and Ousmane Dembélé for PSG. Under the guidance of Arne Slot and Luis Enrique, respectively, both sides have showcased their attacking prowess throughout the season, making this encounter a tantalizing prospect for neutrals and a critical test for each team’s Champions League aspirations. With PSG riding a five-game winning streak in the competition and Liverpool looking to overcome a recent knockout-stage slump, the stakes are sky-high as these giants vie for supremacy in a tie that could shape their European campaigns.
At the heart of this showdown is the battle between Salah and Dembélé, two forwards who have redefined their teams’ attacking identities this season. For Liverpool, Salah has been nothing short of phenomenal, amassing an astonishing 52 goal contributions (30 goals, 22 assists) across all competitions, a tally that positions him as a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or. His influence under Slot has been the driving force behind the Reds’ relentless march, with his 20 direct goal involvements (12 goals, eight assists) in 30 Champions League knockout-stage appearances marking him as the most prolific African player in the competition’s history, surpassing legends like Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba. Salah’s ability to outperform his expected goals (xG) of 26.0 by roughly four goals underscores his clinical edge, turning even half-chances into decisive moments. On the PSG side, Dembélé has stepped into the void left by Kylian Mbappé’s departure with remarkable aplomb, finally realizing the potential that once made him one of football’s most coveted talents. With 26 goals and six assists across all competitions, he has outperformed his 19.5 xG by an impressive 6.5, a statistic that highlights his razor-sharp finishing whether drifting in from the right or operating centrally. Since the turn of the year, Dembélé has been unstoppable, averaging 1.87 goals and 1.97 goal contributions per 90 minutes in 2025, scoring every 48 minutes—a blistering pace that has propelled PSG’s attack to new heights. This duel between Salah and Dembélé promises to be a spectacle, with both players’ form suggesting they could single-handedly tilt the tie in their team’s favor.
Yet, the narrative extends far beyond these two star attackers, as both PSG and Liverpool boast supporting casts that elevate their squads to elite status. Liverpool’s full-back duo of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been instrumental in their Champions League campaign, leading all full-backs with 300+ minutes in the competition for line-breaking passes per 90—Robertson at 16.6 and Alexander-Arnold at 13.9. Their ability to unlock defenses with incisive passing has been a cornerstone of Slot’s system, complementing Salah’s dynamism up top. For PSG, Achraf Hakimi has emerged as a defensive standout with an attacking flair, topping all defenders in the Champions League this season with 12 chances created and four assists under high-intensity pressure, a figure unmatched by any other player in the competition. His teammate Marquinhos is on the cusp of history, poised to make his 100th Champions League start—a milestone that would make him the fourth Brazilian to achieve it, joining Roberto Carlos, Dani Alves, and Thiago Silva, and the first to do so for a French club. These individual contributions underscore the depth and quality in both squads, with PSG’s five-game winning streak in the Champions League—scoring 21 goals and conceding just three—reflecting their newfound cohesion under Enrique. Liverpool, despite topping the league phase, have stumbled in their last three knockout-stage matches, all against Real Madrid, though their only other loss in this period since 2020-21 came against Inter. This blend of attacking firepower and defensive solidity sets the stage for a tactical chess match at the Parc des Princes.
The historical context of this matchup adds another layer of intrigue, as PSG and Liverpool have met sparingly in the Champions League, with just two prior encounters in the 2018-19 group stage—Liverpool winning 3-2 at Anfield and PSG retaliating with a 2-1 victory in Paris, leaving their head-to-head record deadlocked. This will be their first knockout-stage clash since the 1996-97 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals, where PSG edged out a 3-2 aggregate win en route to the final. Liverpool’s struggles against French sides on the road—failing to win any of their last five such matches (two draws, three losses), with their last victory coming at Marseille in 2008—could give PSG a psychological edge. However, Slot’s unbeaten record against French opposition in major European competitions (two wins, one draw), including a 2-1 triumph over Lille this season, suggests he has the nous to navigate this challenge. PSG’s path to the last 16 required a playoff victory, but their current form—21 goals in their last five Champions League games—echoes their six-game winning streak under Luis Fernandez in 1994-95, hinting at a team peaking at the right moment. Liverpool’s knockout-stage woes against Real Madrid aside, their league-phase dominance underlines their credentials, though the Parc des Princes will test their resilience in a way the Premier League has not. For Enrique, this is a chance to cement PSG’s status as genuine contenders; for Slot, it’s an opportunity to banish the ghosts of recent European setbacks and assert Liverpool’s supremacy.
As the Parc des Princes prepares to host this epic encounter, the clash of styles—PSG’s flair and pressing intensity against Liverpool’s structured yet explosive attack—promises a night of high drama. Salah’s relentless scoring and playmaking will challenge PSG’s backline, while Dembélé’s pace and finishing will test Liverpool’s defensive resolve, with Hakimi and Alexander-Arnold likely to play pivotal roles in the wide areas. Marquinhos’s potential milestone adds a celebratory note for PSG, but the focus will be on securing a first-leg advantage in a tie that feels evenly poised. Liverpool’s away struggles in France and PSG’s home fortress mentality could tilt the scales, but Slot’s tactical acumen and Salah’s brilliance offer hope for the Reds. With both teams 13 points clear in their leagues and brimming with confidence, this first leg is less about momentum and more about striking a decisive blow in a two-legged battle that could define their seasons. The echoes of 2018-19 and 1996-97 linger, but Wednesday’s showdown feels like a fresh chapter, one where Salah, Dembélé, and their stellar supporting casts will write the next lines in this Champions League saga.
