Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool: Match preview, predicted line-ups, team news and prediction

Paris Saint-Germain host Liverpool at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

The Ligue 1 side handed Chelsea their heaviest defeat in a domestic or European two-legged tie after thrashing them 8-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.

Liverpool overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit to beat Galatasaray 4-1 on aggregate.

Match preview

PSG arrive with confidence following their 3-1 victory over Toulouse last Friday, extending their winning streak to four games across all competitions.

Wednesday’s meeting marks PSG’s fifth Champions League meeting with Liverpool. They have won two and lost two of their previous encounters.

PSG have scored the most goals in the competition this season (34), and rank first for possession per game.

They will look to exploit Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities mainly through their tricky wingers.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has 11 goal involvements in the competition, will provide an attacking threat from the left flank, while Desire Doue will do so at the other end.

Ousmane Dembele remains a constant threat, while Vitinha, who likes to run from his deep-lying midfield role, gives an extra offensive presence.

PSG knocked out Liverpool on penalties in the round of 16 last term and are the favourites to win again.

Liverpool lost 4-0 at Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday, leaving the Champions League as their only realistic chance of winning silverware.

The Merseyside giants rank first for total shots (20.6) per game and shots on target per game (8.5), while they are second for big chances created (55) in the competition.

However, they have not been clinical, scoring just 24 goals and missing the most big chances (41).

The Reds have conceded just nine goals and kept five clean sheets.

Mohamed Salah and Dominic Szoboszlai are Liverpool’s main attacking force, with the pair ranking first and second for big chances created in the competition.

Florian Wirtz could also make an impact, having averaged the joint-most key passes per game in the competition.

Team news

Quentin Ndjantou and Bradley Barcola are ruled out for PSG, while Senny Mayulu and Fabian Ruiz are doubts.

Alisson Becker, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and Conor Bradley are sidelined for Liverpool.

Predicted line-ups

PSG (4-3-3): Matvey Safonov, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Warren Zaire-Emery, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis McAllister, Dominic Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike.

Prediction

We expect this game to end 3-1 in PSG’s favour.

Stats from sofascore.com & uefa.com.