Fans are eager to see the second leg of this UEFA Champions League Round of 16 matchup. During the first game, for almost the whole 90 minutes, PSG had all the cards in their hand. However, Arne Slot’s men managed to rally and convert their only shot on target into a goal. An unexpected hero in Harvey Elliot allowed the English side to leave France with a satisfactory result, especially considering that the hosts dominated for almost the entire game.
With that being said, PSG proved that they can play quality football against top-tier opponents. If they can bring similar energy levels into Anfield, Liverpool will have their work cut out for them once again. For football betting enthusiasts, it’s a tough pick once again. Luckily, our experts will look at both teams’ situations in depth and compare the strengths and weaknesses of both the Paris and Liverpool sides.
Liverpool vs Paris – Kick-Off Time & Most Important Match Info
- UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 2nd leg
- Date: March 11
- Location: Anfield, Liverpool (Capacity: 61 276)
- Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT
- 1st Leg Result: PSG 0:1 Liverpool
- Players to watch: Mo Salah (Liverpool), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Luis Diaz (Liverpool), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Bradley Barcola (PSG)
Liverpool vs Paris – Form and Season Analysis
Liverpool started the season exceptionally well, dominating both domestically and internationally. On the other hand, Paris is once again a force to be reckoned with in the French Ligue 1 but faced ups and downs in the Champions League, only finishing 15th in the final standings. Nevertheless, they are improving their quality of play. All the details point to this becoming a classic matchup of this year’s Champions League.
Liverpool FC 2024/25 season
After being painfully close to the Premier League title and flunking out of the UEFA Europa League in the Quarter-finals in the 2023/24 season, Liverpool finally said goodbye to Jurgen Klopp and introduced his replacement – Arne Slot. The Dutchman made an immediate impact, roaring past anyone who stood in the way of ‘the Reds’ in the Champions League group stage while climbing to the top of English football. Liverpool is currently leading the Premier League with more than 10 points in hand.
In addition, the Anfield side reached the Carabao Cup final to defend their title, so all seems well. The team’s only notable stumble came in the FA Cup, where they were eliminated in the round of 32.
Besides the manager – Slot, most of Liverpool’s success lies on Mo Salah’s shoulders. He is scoring at a Premier League-leading pace and has tallied double-digit assists, making the attacking winger/forward an early favourite for the Ballon d’Or. We mustn’t forget Cody Gakpo – a consistent presence up front (although doubtful for the first leg), the team’s enforcer in the middle – Alexis Mac Allister, as well as the backbone of the defence – captain Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool has the luxury of not relying too much on players like Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota. All of them are stars in their own regard but play very meaningful roles, not demanding too much spotlight.
In the 2nd leg, they need to provide a display of a high-octane offence. Even though they did defend well, they were also somewhat lucky, considering none of the 10 shots on target from PSG were converted into goals. If Liverpool can play more cohesively at home, they should have the advantage.
However, they are not without their weaknesses. We see the first signs of fatigue emerge, and none of their usual leaders up front delivered a solid showing. Mo Salah and Diogo Jota need to step up.
Paris Saint-Germain 2024/25 season
As always, Paris has two different seasons. They have Ligue 1 football, where we’re accustomed to them dominating. Paris is the 3-time defending champion and has won 10 domestic titles in the past 12 years.
However, success in the UEFA Champions League has eluded them so far. During that same 12-year stretch, they reached the Finals only once, eventually losing a heartbreaker to Bayern 0:1. Every other year, Paris has, if we put it frankly, choked on numerous occasions. Last year, they lost to a much less threatening Dortmund squad in the semi-finals, providing a familiar sight of a disappointing exit.
The Parc des Princes side annihilated Brest 10-0 on aggregate to reach the Round of 16. However, the 1st leg of the Round of 16 seemed like the same old story. They had 70 % of possession and way more opportunities but for some reason just weren’t able to convert.
The main strength of PSG is their explosive offence, which is probably on par, if not even better, than what their opponents in this round have. They can score against anyone, and that shouldn’t be a problem two times in a row. Ousmane Dembele is finally looking like a true football superstar. He is aided by the young Frenchman Bradley Barcola – a standout performer almost anytime he hits the pitch, as well as Achraf Hakimi and the newest addition – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, coming from Napoli and, further boosting the attacking prowess of the Paris side.
Luis Enrique has to also keep in mind the weaknesses of his squad. PSG players are definitely less battle-tested, failing to capitalise on precious chances in the first leg.
Liverpool vs Paris | Champions League 2nd Leg Prediction
If we look at the odds for both teams, they seem quite evenly matched, with maybe a slight nod towards the visitors (Liverpool).
However, Paris has Ousmane Dembele as well as Bradley Barcola. Both are in excellent form and can go toe-to-toe with Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo. This can be a treat for any fan’s eyes. With both teams evenly matched, the offences can steal the show and lead one or the other side to victory.
Liverpool vs Paris | Form, H2H and Interesting Stats
Here are the forms of both squads and interesting stats
Liverpool’s Home Form and Interesting Stats
- January 21 – 2:1 vs Lille (W)
- January 25 – 4:1 vs Ipswich (W)
- February 6 – 4:0 vs Tottenham (W)
- February 16 – 2:1 vs Wolves (W)
- February 26 – 2:0 vs Newcastle United (W)
Liverpool has been perfect in the last five matches at Anfield, winning all five. In those games, they average 2.8 goals per game (14 total) and concede 0.6 goals per game (3 total).
Paris Saint-Germain’s Away Form and Interesting Stats
- February 4 – 2:0 vs Le Mans (W)
- February 11 – 3:0 vs Brest (W)
- February 15 – 1:0 vs Toulouse (W)
- February 23 – 3:2 vs Lyon (W)
- February 26 – 7:0 vs Stade Briochin (W)
PSG has also played flawlessly in the past 5 away games, winning all those matches. In the past 5 away outings, they score well, averaging 3.2 per game (16 total) and conceding almost nothing – 0.4 per game (2 total).
Conclusion
Make sure not to miss this exciting football fiesta in a winner-takes-all 2nd leg on March 11. Kick-off is set for 8 PM GMT, so prepare some snacks and drinks and meet your lads or lady friends to enjoy the best players from top English and French football flights.
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