Liverpool vs. PSG Champions League Preview and Prediction
Four teams will remain after this week’s Champions League action, and while some squads may feel they already have one foot in the semifinals, others are eyeing comebacks. Liverpool is one of those squads that needs to pull off a comeback after losing the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain in Paris 2-0. The Reds will try to summon the same effort that saw them come back from a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona in 2019, and if they get an early goal, they’ll be right in this game.
There’s plenty to look at for Tuesday’s match, so let’s dive in.
Liverpool vs. Paris Saint-Germain Champions League Odds and Betting Trends
The oddsmakers can barely separate these teams; Liverpool is a slight +140 favourite compared to PSG’s +155 odds on the three-way moneyline. The draw carries a +320 price on the Champions League odds, but more importantly, PSG has -700 odds to advance after their 2-0 victory in the first leg. The Over/Under is 3.5; the Over is at +115, while the Under has -145 odds.
Odds are against the Reds (+450 to advance), as they’ve been eliminated from nine of their last 10 European knockout ties after losing the first leg by two or more goals. Although they bounced back with a 2-0 win against Fulham over the weekend, PSG was able to rest, as Ligue 1 postponed their scheduled league match. The Parisians have gone unbeaten in eight consecutive UCL knockout games (8-1-0), and they’re currently riding a five-match winning streak. There should be goals too; four of Liverpool’s last five home UCL contests featured 4+ goals, and PSG has scored 2+ goals in five straight UCL matches.
Liverpool
Last week’s 2-0 defeat to PSG marked Liverpool’s third consecutive loss in all competitions, but Arne Slot’s side finally snapped that streak with a 2-0 home victory against Fulham on Saturday. They’ll need to replicate that performance at Anfield to advance to the next round, and I think they can make this tie interesting, as they’re 7-3-1 at home since the turn of the New Year.
17-year-old Rio Ngumoha was the man of the match over the weekend, as the budding star scored his first Anfield goal to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead against Fulham. Now, Arne Slot has to decide whether he’ll keep Ngumoha in the Starting XI or whether he’ll go with another one of Liverpool’s attackers. Another key point to watch is which team can score first; if the Reds take an early 1-0 lead, Anfield will start rocking, and a comeback is completely in the cards.
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG seems to be hitting top form, as they’ve won five consecutive matches in all competitions and are 8-1-1 in their last 10. Although they haven’t secured the Ligue 1 title, they were awarded the weekend off by the French football authorities. If the Parisians advance, it will be their third straight UCL semifinal appearance, which has never been done by a French club.
During their win streak, PSG’s biggest strength has been their defence. They’ve allowed just 0.6 goals per game over their last five matches, but they will definitely be tested by Liverpool with Anfield behind them. Liverpool has 15 goals in their previous five home matches, and I’d be extremely surprised if they don’t score at least two on Tuesday.
Champions League Prediction: Who Will Win Liverpool vs. Paris Saint-Germain?
Liverpool will need to open the game up the longer it stays 0-0. There’s no doubt that Anfield will be filled with energy for another European night, and I expect Liverpool to make this game interesting. In the end, Liverpool should come away with a victory on the night, but PSG will strike back, doing enough to advance.
Best Bet: Over 3.5 (+115)
Score Prediction: Liverpool 3 | PSG 2