Paris Saint-Germain dominated Liverpool to earn a 2-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Paris on 8 April, a result that could easily have been much more lopsided. Désiré Doué opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a deflected effort that looped over a helpless Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead with a clinical finish after a through ball from João Neves.
Liverpool, arriving in Paris still reeling from a 4-0 FA Cup thrashing at the hands of Manchester City, left with their dignity barely intact and failed to register a single shot on target. Now, heading into the second leg at Anfield tonight, Luis Enrique has urged his players not to fall into a trap, openly acknowledging how quickly a football match can flip, despite PSG’s current lead.
PSG’s predicted line-up against Liverpool carries the same fearsome shape
Luis Enrique will show no appetite for rotation. He will use the same relentless 4-3-3 that suffocated Liverpool less than a week ago. There is little reason to change; every player in that line-up played their part in Paris. Even with Fabián Ruiz out with a knee injury and teenage forward Quentin Ndjantou sidelined, this squad has more than enough depth to cope.
Between the sticks, Matvey Safonov should manage the PSG goal with a level of composure that suggests a much older keeper. The Russian shot-stopper was ice-cool in the first leg, and his distribution is a key trigger for PSG’s high press, making him much more than just a shot-blocker.
The defence should be anchored by Marquinhos, the captain and the pulse of this backline. The Brazilian reads the game better than almost anyone, and beside him, Willian Pacho adds the kind of raw physicality that makes life miserable for opposing strikers.
At left-back, Nuno Mendes has the attacking attributes with defensive strength, while Achraf Hakimi on the right offers a totally different threat, pure pace, pinpoint crossing, and a habit of showing up in the box to overwhelm defenders.
Arteta will be thrilled – Five players who could arrive at Emirates this summer
A midfield engine that controls tempo and territory
The midfield trio is where PSG really take over, with each player filling a specific role. Warren Zaïre-Emery, still only 19, plays with a maturity that we can hardly ignore. He covers a massive amount of ground and shuts down attacks before they even start.
Alongside him, Vitinha sits a bit deeper, pulling the strings of PSG’s build-up with steady passing and a sense of positioning that always seems to open up passing lanes. Then there is João Neves, the link between the middle and the front. His ability to carry the ball forward and find a killer pass was on full display when he set up Kvaratskhelia’s goal at the Parc des Princes.
The front three, meanwhile, have a collective spark that few teams in this competition can match. Désiré Doué should start out wide on the left, using tight dribbling skills and direct in-behind runs to tear the defence open. Ousmane Dembélé, even after missing a few clear-cut chances in the first leg, remains the kind of player defenders hate to face; his speed and unpredictability mean he can create something out of nothing at any moment. Kvaratskhelia leads the line, cutting inside to cause chaos and finishing with total confidence. His goal in Paris was proof of a player at the top of his game.
Gerrard – This £120m star attacker could be the ‘perfect’ replacement for Salah
Luis Enrique has made his stance clear: PSG won’t be changing their approach for anyone, no matter the stadium or the opponent’s history. That mindset is baked into every position in this XI, making them a massive hurdle for Liverpool to clear.
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Matvey Safonov – Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes – João Neves, Vitinha, Warren Zaïre-Emery – Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
