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One of the most intriguing ties of the Champions League last 16 takes place in Paris this week as PSG lock horns with Liverpool.
PSG are coming into this game in the strongest position they've been in for quite some time. The Parisians are flying at the top of Ligue 1 with 62 points, 13 clear of Marseille in 2nd. Crucially, though, PSG look more fearsome than they have since the side under Thomas Tuchel containing Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, a side that reached the final some years back.
Under Luis Enrique, PSG started the season slowly, which largely explains their 16th place finish in the Champions League group phase table. However, as the season has worn on, they've become increasingly impressive, and it looks as though this team has taken huge strides in its evolution.
After what was a fairly stale outfit last season, Enrique has evolved the team's style of play, and they now play some of the most positionally fluid football in Europe. A front three of Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and one of Gonçalo Ramos or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is extremely tough to contain, and their constant rotational movements make them very difficult to handle.
Since the departure of Mbappé to Real Madrid, PSG look like a more cohesive unit, and in his absence, Dembélé has really stepped up to the plate. By quite some distance, the Frenchman is having the best individual season of his career and has undoubtedly been one of the top players in Europe, scoring 26 goals and recording 6 assists in all competitions this season.
The Parisians have been given a monster of a draw here and the bookies make them the underdogs, but the red-hot form of Dembélé and the recent performances of the team means that this is likely going to be a razor-tight tie.
Liverpool are entering this tie as one of the favourites for the trophy. The Reds have stormed the Premier League this season as they sit top of the league table with 67 points, 13 clear of Arsenal in 2nd.
Arne Slot's men were equally dominant in the group phase of the Champions League too, where they finished top of the table with seven wins from eight games, losing only their final game of the campaign with a heavily rotated team. Of course, though, the huge question is whether or not they can translate all of these results and performances to the business end of the Champions League, where things start to become really difficult.
The Reds will probably feel hard done by to be drawn against such a fearsome outfit in the first knockout round after finishing top of the group stage, but if they do manage to beat this version of PSG at this stage, it will make a huge statement to the rest of Europe.
The way things are going, Liverpool will likely be able to take their foot off the gas somewhat in the Premier League in the coming weeks, so if they can manage to get through this tie, they'll be in a really strong position to prioritise the Champions League and take extra care of the workload of their top players, which would be a gargantuan luxury.
PSG, though, will do everything in their power to ensure that Liverpool's Champions League campaign ends at the first hurdle, and while Liverpool might be the favourites, the Parisians might just have something for them.
This game will be televised live to all subscribed UK viewers on TNT Sports 1.
PSG Team News:
The Parisians come into this game with a fully fit squad to choose from, so preparation could not have been much better in that regard.
Ousmane Dembélé and Fabián Ruiz are both one booking away from a one-match suspension, so they're walking a tightrope here.
Predicted lineup: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doué, Dembélé, Barcola.
Liverpool Team News:
The Reds will be without Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton, all of whom are out injured.
Arne Slot also has a few key players walking the suspension tightrope, with Ibrahima Konaté and Andy Robertson both one booking away from a suspension.
Predicted lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Díaz; Jota.
PSG:
PSG's form is excellent, as they come into this game with five wins from their last five games. Most recently, Luis Enrique's men cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over Lille, thanks to goals from Bradley Barcola, Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué.
Before that, PSG beat Stade Briochin 7-0 thanks in the Coup de France courtesy of goals from João Neves, Gonçalo Ramos (X3), Doué, Senny Mayulu and Dembélé, a result that followed a 3-2 win against Lyon, where a brace from Achraf Hakimi and a goal from Dembélé got the job done.
Those results came after a 7-0 win over Brest in the Champions League - thanks to goals from Barcola, Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Doué, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Ramos and Mayulu - and a 1-0 win over Toulouse, where Fabián Ruiz scored the goal.
Liverpool:
Liverpool's form is also strong, with the Reds winning three and drawing two of their last five games. Liverpool's most recent game was a 2-0 win over Newcastle thanks to goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, a result that was preceded by a 2-0 win over Manchester City, courtesy of Mohamed Salah and Szoboszlai.
Prior to that, goals from Salah and Alexander-Arnold played their part in a 2-2 draw away at Aston Villa, which was preceded by a 2-1 win over Wolves - where Luis Díaz and Salah scored the goals - and a 2-2 draw with Everton, with the goals coming from Mac Allister and Salah.
Liverpool's away form has been mixed of late, as they come into this one with just two wins from their last five games on the road, and three losses from their last nine. PSG, by contrast, are unbeaten in their last ten on home soil, winning eight of those.
This will undoubtedly be a close game, but PSG have scored a whopping 40 goals in their last ten games, so considering the way they're playing and the talent at their disposal, we fancy them to edge the first leg of this tie. PSG 2-1 Liverpool.
