Liverpool’s Champions League campaign begins tomorrow at Anfield when they host Ligue 1 Champions Paris-Saint-Germain. Last season’s finalists have started their season well and it’s going to be an entertaining encounter as PSG, like Liverpool, have one of the best attacking trios in world football in Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe.
PSG have started their Ligue 1 campaign positively as well, having won their opening five games, just like Liverpool. The two sides have faced each other twice, and both of them have won a game each, so expect a tightly contested affair.
Liverpool Team News
Jürgen Klopp will be without the services of Divock Origi and Dominic Solanke but he does have a few options up his sleeve as Daniel Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri are yet to start a game for the Reds this season.
Dejan Lovren is a long-term absentee and won’t feature. Fabinho is fit again, but it’s unlikely we’ll see him start in a game of this big a magnitude straight away.
Predicted Liverpool lineup
Defence
Liverpool’s strongest formation is the 4-3-3 and we expect Klopp to stick to that against PSG. The defence could have its hands full against the PSG attack, however.
Alisson Becker did well against Tottenham when he had the ball at his feet as he got rid of it immediately following the gaffe against Leicester City. He keeps his place in goal.
The pair of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk have exceeded expectations so far but dealing with Edinson Cavani will be a whole different challenge. The same can be said for Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold who will have to keep Neymar and Kylian Mbappe under wraps.
Robertson has made more tackles than any other Liverpool player in the Premier League and he’ll have to replicate that form against Mbappe.
Midfield
Gini Wijnaldum excelled in the midfield role against Tottenham and the game didn’t necessarily take a lot out of him either. Considering his form, it would be surprising if he doesn’t make the team against PSG.
Naby Keita and James Milner are expected to partner Wijnaldum in midfield with the former playing a more attacking role.
Attack
Mane, Firmino and Salah have all gotten off the mark in the league but haven’t been at their efficient best. Liverpool’s expected goals ratio from open play is 10.11 but the team have managed only 7 from open play, so their conversion rate can improve.
Salah was wasteful against Spurs and the fans will open his decision-making improves against PSG. Firmino had a scare when he was taken off for an eye injury but is alright to start the game.
Mane – Firmino -Salah
Keita – Wijnaldum – Milner
Robertson – van Dijk – Gomez – TAA
Alisson
Stats via Whoscored