Champions
League 2018/19: PSG vs Liverpool, Preview and Prediction
Group C is proving to
be the most competitive of this year’s UEFA Champions League, with all four
teams separated by just two points after four matches. Both Liverpool and Paris
Saint-Germain were the strong favorites to progress when this group was drawn,
but both have to keep their form going if they’re to progress to the knockouts
in the new year.
The Reds beat a lackluster
PSG side thanks to a late comeback at Anfield in the opening group game, but
the Parisians put in a pair of good performances to hold Napoli in their
previous two European ties, so they’ll definitely be up for this one.
Previous Matches
PSG
1–0 Toulouse (Ligue 1)
Edinson Cavani got the only goal of the game
PSG kept their perfect
start to their Ligue 1 campaign going thanks to an early Edinson Cavani goal.
The Uruguayan controlled a rebounded effort with a series of keepie uppies
before volleying in after nine minutes, a goal that was more reminiscent of FIFA
Street than professional football.
Friday night’s game
gave Thomas Tuchel the perfect opportunity to rest key players for their
midweek clash against Liverpool. However, the German coach opted for a
full-strength side, something the hosts needed as Toulouse came close to
equalising on a number of occasions, thanks largely to sloppy defending.
For Les Parisiens,
though, it was 14 wins in a row in the league and a 15 point lead over
second-placed Lyon.
Watford
0-3 Liverpool
Henderson took some of the shine off
Liverpool's win by getting sent off.
Liverpool kept pace
with leaders Manchester City with a comprehensive win over Watford at Vicarage
Road on Saturday afternoon. Both sides traded blows in the first half, but it
took until the second period for the opening goal, Mo Salah converting a Sadio
Mane cutback to put the visitors ahead.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
then converted a free-kick from range, a perfectly hit strike which left Ben
Foster rooted to his line. There was a late scare, though, Jordon Henderson
picking up a second yellow card and going for an early bath. However, the win
was sealed with injury time looming, Roberto Firmino putting in a Mane rebound.
Predicted Lineups
PSG
Predicted PSG Lineup v Liverpool
Both Neymar and Kylian
Mbappe missed out on the game against Toulouse but Tuchel has said that the
pair could return for this one, and will likely be risked with the French
league already over.
Angel Di Maria and
Julian Draxler will likely miss out but one or two of them could start deeper
in midfield if the French champions are feeling adventurous. Aside from that,
it’s the same XI which started on Friday night, but don’t rule out Alphonse
Areola returning in place of the great Gianluigi Buffon.
Liverpool
Predicted Liverpool Lineup v PSG
Jurgen Klopp has said
that Joe Gomez will be fit for this encounter, meaning that Dejan Lovren will
be demoted to the bench. Jordan Henderson’s ban only applies to domestic games,
so the club captain is eligible to retain his starting berth in Europe.
I believe that James
Milner will start this one in midfield alongside Naby Keita and Henderson with
Georginio Wijnaldum being relegated to the bench. Also not starting may be
Xherdan Shaqiri, as Klopp will have to be more defensive if the Reds are to
come out of this one unscathed.
Key Player: Mohamed Salah
After a slow start to
the season (by his lofty standards) Mohamed Salah is firing on all cylinders
once again. The Egyptian forward has been scoring and providing consistently as
part of what is arguably Europe’s most talented attacking force.
If Liverpool are to
get at least a point in the Parc des Princes they have to score and this man
will likely be a part of any goals. With Salah starting alongside both Firmino
and Mane and possessing as much pace and skill as he does, the likes of Thiago
Silva and Marquinhos will be very nervous indeed and they’ll do well to keep
him out for the duration of the game.
Liverpool to qualify?
Liverpool would probably qualify with a win
on Wednesday night.
If Liverpool pull off
a win on Wednesday night and Red Star fail to win, the Reds will qualify for
the last 16 with a game to spare. This is unlikely, though, as the last team to
beat Les Parisiens in their own backyard was Rennes last season, long after the
Ligue 1 title had already been sealed.
A draw, however, would
be a respectable result, although Liverpool would likely require a win on the
final day against Napoli to have a chance of topping the group and getting a
more favourable draw. Whatever happens, there will be an exciting climax to
this group, with all four teams still within a shot of qualifying.
Prediction: PSG 2-2 Liverpool
With Napoli playing
against Red Star Belgrade on the same day, the Italians will likely be the only
winners from this encounter. Liverpool and PSG are two fairly evenly matched
sides, with the latter perhaps edging this bout in an even contest.
However, the French
champions have home advantage, and with the attacking prowess of Neymar, Mbappe
and Cavani bearing down on the Liverpool back-line, they’ll certainly score.
This result would leave it all to play for in the final round with the English
side being the only one playing at home in the last group game in December.
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