Liverpool returns to Champions League action at the last-16 stage with a glamor tie against PSG beginning today in Paris. And Arne Slot has named his starting XI for the huge game.
Alisson Becker is in goal with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson at full-back. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk are at the heart of the Liverpool defense, with Jarell Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas on standby should they be required at any stage.
In midfield, Slot has gone with his strongest trio. That includes Ryan Gravenberch at the base with Alexis Mac Allister and the in-form Dominik Szoboszlai in front of him. Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo are among the options on the bench.
Mohamed Salah, of course, is on the right-hand side for Liverpool. He is joined up top by Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, with Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa all among the substitutes. Cody Gakpo has traveled but is not involved because of a minor knock.
“I think Luis Enrique did a lot of things really well over here in the past one-and-a-half seasons,” Slot said during his pre-match press conference. “He really created in a few transfer windows which I think — I don’t know, I haven’t asked him — but I assume he is quite happy with what he created over here.
“Not only in team performance but also in individual performance. If you look at the quality [Ousmane] Dembele brings to the team at the moment, it is very impressive. That is one of the many similarities there are — both have attackers in great form and scoring a lot of goals, as well as all the other things I just said.
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“It is clear that Luis Enrique did a great, great job over here in the past one-and-a-half seasons and he was already in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season. In my opinion, this team is even better than the one he managed last season.”
PSG has won each of its last 10 matches but lost to Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in the Champions League group phase. Like Liverpool, it is 13 points clear in its domestic league.
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jota, Diaz. Subs: Kelleher, Jaros, Quansah, Tsimikas, Jones, Endo, Elliott, McConnell, Nunez, Chiesa, Nyoni.
PSG starting XI: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Barcola, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia. Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Ramos, Doue, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Zaire-Emery, Lucas Beraldo, Mbaye.
