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Liverpool were thoroughly dominated by Paris Saint-Germain last Wednesday, yet they head into the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal at Anfield still with a realistic shot at advancing to the semifinals.
Arne Slot's men went into "survival mode" at the Parc des Princes and somehow managed to limit the damage to a 2–0 loss, despite being overwhelmed by the defending champions throughout.
The Reds have a proud tradition of producing unforgettable comebacks under the Anfield floodlights, and they overturned a first-leg deficit in the previous round to make the quarterfinals. That said, PSG represent a significant upgrade on the Galatasaray side that visited Merseyside last month.
Following a difficult few weeks, Slot got some relief at the weekend as his squad, sparked by 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, cruised past Fulham to strengthen their bid for a top-five Premier League finish. The Anfield atmosphere won't be one of despair come kickoff, though expectations remain tempered heading into the clash with PSG.
Curtis Jones Likely to Miss Second Leg
"He felt a little bit of discomfort in his groin. It wasn't the right moment—he'd been feeling it for a few minutes already," Slot said regarding Curtis Jones' withdrawal on Saturday. Jones is unlikely to be available for the second leg, having been handed a rare Premier League start over the weekend.
The out-of-sorts Alexis Mac Allister is set to return to the starting XI on Tuesday evening, lining up alongside Ryan Gravenberch.
Slot also confirmed that goalkeeper Alisson, still recovering from a hamstring problem, will not be available this week, with Giorgi Mamardashvili keeping his place between the posts for the second leg.
Liverpool continue to be without Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni, while Alexander Isak has come off the bench in consecutive matches.
Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. PSG (4-2-3-1)
GK: Giorgi Mamardashvili—The imposing Georgian was instrumental in keeping Liverpool's deficit manageable last week, and a similarly commanding display will be essential if the hosts are to have any hope of progressing.
RB: Joe Gomez—Slot will persist with a back four, though he rarely fields both of his summer full-back signings simultaneously. As a result, Gomez, who operated at center back last week, could slot into a disciplined right-back role on Tuesday.
CB: Ibrahima Konaté—Slot must be reminding Konaté to keep his composure after the defender's reckless use of his hands nearly contributed to a heavier defeat in Paris.
CB: Virgil van Dijk—Liverpool are in desperate need of a classic Van Dijk performance, as the captain will inevitably be tested repeatedly by this formidable PSG attack.
LB: Milos Kerkez—Gomez's more conservative role should free the Hungarian full-back to push forward and contribute to Liverpool's attacking play. Kerkez's offensive energy hasn't been on full display this season, but he can be a genuine threat when given license to advance.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch—PSG are exceptional without the ball, with their energetic midfield pressing making life miserable for Liverpool's engine room last week. If the hosts are to mount a comeback, their composed Dutchman must unlock the game by finding creative ways to bypass the pressure.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister—Mac Allister has lacked consistency throughout the campaign and has tended to struggle in high-profile fixtures. He finds it difficult to cope with the expansive spaces PSG exploit, but Slot will likely have little choice but to rely on him alongside Gravenberch.
RW: Mohamed Salah—Nuno Mendes may well have a productive evening, but it's a gamble Slot almost certainly has to accept. Salah got back on the scoresheet at the weekend after being left out last Wednesday. He is, after all, Liverpool's all-time top scorer in this competition.
AM: Dominik Szoboszlai—The Hungarian midfielder is a near-certain starter and could reprise the influential role he played last season.
LW: Rio Ngumoha—What does Slot have to lose? The 17-year-old injects creativity into an otherwise predictable attack, and if Liverpool are to pull off something extraordinary on Tuesday, they'll need goals in abundance. Ngumoha's inclusion gives them the best chance of at least putting some doubt into the minds of the holders.
ST: Hugo Ekitiké—Ekitiké endured a miserable return to his former club last week, but is unlikely to be as isolated at Anfield. The Frenchman was given a rest against Fulham and gets another opportunity to make an impression against the side that let him go.