Two high-flying teams, gritty Paris Saint-Germain and league-phase leaders Liverpool, will meet in the 2024/25 Champions League round of 16. The first leg will take place at Parc des Princes.
PSG vs LIV Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 5 March 2025 / Thursday, 6 March 2025
Time: 21:00 (CET), 01:30 (IST)
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
PSG vs LIV Match Preview
PSG turned from staring at an early exit after losing three of the first five games of the League Phase table to believers of winning the competition by winning the remaining three matches and obliterating fellow Ligue 1 outfit Brest 10-0 aggregate in the playoffs, a spot they earned finishing 15th in the 36-team table. It was a ruthless showing from Luis Enrique's men who finally want to quench their thirst for the trophy which they could not achieve even during the superstar eras with Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. Their biggest achievement in the competition was reaching the 2020 Champions League final during the pandemic, where they were defeated by Bayern Munich. The club from the French capital also came close to reaching another showpiece last season, but another German club, Borussia Dortmund, ended their journey. With the competition format undergoing a massive change, the Parisians faced heavyweights from the off and are due to face another title contender in Liverpool in the Round of 16 stage. So, the challenge is far more severe this time. PSG are fighting on two more fronts to achieve a historic treble, 13 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table without losing a game and reaching the semi-final stage of the Coupe de France. Hence, the side is completely attentive towards European triumph and a solid home performance is required against possibly the best team this season to keep the dream alive.
Under Arne Slot, Liverpool has been a well-oiled machine having topped the League Phase table with seven wins and just a stake-less 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven to show in their last game of a fascinating Champions League campaign till now. The Reds are also crushing in the Premier League and topping the table with a 13-point lead, the same as their Wednesday’s opponent PSG. A memorable three-peat is up for grabs with the side reaching another Carabao Cup final with just four losses to show in the entire season. Undoubtedly, the club is witnessing one of the best periods in their history and want to extend it by stretching their five-game unbeaten run at Paris. Liverpool are on a three-game losing run in the knockouts of the competition and also lost in their last away meeting of this fixture, so there is a place for concern. The opposition are also on a 10-match winning streak, with the Reds wishing they got an easier opponent so early in the knockouts having topped the League Phase. The away form in all competitions is also a bit disappointing with only three wins from their last nine and without a victory in their five straight visits to France. However, the team is favourites for the competition for a reason and don't want an early end by losing this tie in which they have an upper hand. The second leg is also at Anfield, serving as motivation to achieve a notable result here.
PSG vs LIV Recent Form (all competitions)
PSG: WWWWW
LIV: DWDWW
PSG vs LIV Recent Form (Champions League)
PSG: WWWWW
LIV: WWWWL
PSG vs LIV Predicted Lineups
PSG
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Barcola
Liverpool
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz
PSG vs LIV Dream11 Match Prediction
PSG's attacking brilliance poses a threat to any defense in Europe currently, but few teams have been as organized as Liverpool this season. With Mohamed Salah rampaging for the Reds, there is also a key difference maker for them, so they are most likely the team to secure a victory here. We predict a 2-1 win for the guests.
PSG vs LIV Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Mohamed Salah
Vice-captain Picks: Ousmane Dembélé, Dominik Szoboszlai
Our top pick for PSG vs LIV Dream11 is Mohamed Salah with three goals and four assists in seven Champions League games this season, 52 goal contributions in 39 games overall. The Egyptian player has been involved in 20 goals across 30 Champions League knockout matches, more than any other African player.
The other option could be Ousmane Dembélé with six goals and an assist to his name, including a hat-trick against Brest in the second leg of the playoff. The Frenchman has been the top-scorer for PSG this season with 26 goals and six assists in 33 games in all competitions.
PSG vs LIV Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Alisson (Cr - 7, Pts - 123)
DEF: Hakimi (Cr - 9, Pts - 274), Alexander-Arnold (Cr - 8, Pts - 218), Mendes (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 202)
MID: Dembélé (Cr - 9, Pts - 285), Szoboszlai (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 185), Mac Allister (Cr - 8, Pts - 230) Gakpo (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 297)
FW: Barcola (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 198), Salah (Cr - 9, Pts - 346), Kvaratskhelia (Cr - 8)
Vice-captain: Ousmane Dembélé
Captain: Mohamed Salah
