Liverpool had the weekend off as a result of having been knocked out of the FA Cup, but PSG was in action in Ligue 1 in what looked like it could be a tricky game a few days before the pair meet in the Champions League.
Instead, Luis Enrique’s men were 4-0 up against Lille before half-time and cruised to a victory. It was a nice way to warm up for the last-16 first leg on Wednesday, when Liverpool heads to the Parc de Princes.
Asked about the Liverpool game in his post-match press conference, Enrique was clear about what his game plan will be for the glamor double-header. Giving the Reds a big compliment, he also promised that PSG would go for it and not be afraid to attack.
“It’s what I’ve said from day one, we’re not here to sit back,” Enrique said. “We’re going to try to win the game. We have nothing to protect.
“We’re going up against what’s possibly the best team in Europe, a team that qualified brilliantly. But sitting back, speculating, or changing how we play isn’t part of our mentality. We attack and defend in this way, and we’ll try to show our very best version.
“We don’t see ourselves as inferior. I see this tie as 50-50. And we’ll do everything we can to swing it in our favor. Maybe we’re facing a team that’s a mirror image of ourselves. But we won’t sit back, not here and not at Anfield.”
Liverpool finished top of the group phase in UEFA’s new-look competition. PSG was 15th and therefore had to take part in the play-off, in which it beat fellow French side Brest by an aggregate scoreline of 10-0.
(Image: Christian Kaspar-Bartke – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion,” Enrique continued. “I think we’re in a very good place. We’ve put together a strong season from the start, of course, there are things to improve, like any team. But we’re arriving at this stage in excellent form.
“This is probably our best spell of the season. When you think of all the chances we created, plus scoring four goals against a team like Lille, one of the best sides in the Champions League, reducing them to almost nothing is incredibly difficult, and it shows where we’re at.
“Now it’s time to focus on the two legs against Liverpool. We’ll rest, and we’ll stay ambitious, just like we’ve been for the past 18 months.”
“I don’t think we fear teams,” Arne Slot said when he was previewing the game. “I don’t think the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Real Madrid, these kind of clubs don’t fear opponents.
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“But we definitely respect them and there’s a reason for that, and that’s what you just said — that they won so many games in a row and they have so many quality players. I think it’s going to be a very interesting game for everybody who loves football.
“I would be surprised if people who are neutral watch a different game than that one because I think everyone — including Paris Saint-Germain and us — are looking forward to the game.”
Liverpool.com says: Facing PSG doesn’t feel like a particularly good prize for Liverpool after finishing top of the league phase, but you have to beat the best to go all the way in the Champions League. The Reds will be the favorites for the tie, despite what Enrique says, though it won’t be an easy couple of games. A draw or better in the first leg would be a good result to take back to Anfield.
