With the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 approaching for a mouthwatering clash between French Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint Germaine and English giants Liverpool FC, soccer fans all over the world cannot wait. The first leg takes place at the Parc des Princes in Paris on March 4, 2025, a clash billed to be electric.
Head-to-Head
PSG and Liverpool have met four times in European competition, each side winning twice and all of them at home. They first met in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals; PSG won 3-0 at home before Liverpool won 2-0 at Anfield, crashing out 3-2 on aggregate. Beyond that, Liverpool defeated PSG 3-2 at Anfield during the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League group stage, before the Parisians turned the tables to win the return fixture at Parc des Princes 2-1. This history shows the importance of the home advantage in their meetings and SportyTrader experts must have factored all that and so much more. Find out more soccer picks and predictions by SportyTrader to help you in your wagers.
Current Form
PSG: The Parisians have been unbeaten in 21 matches since a drab 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in November 2024, winning 17 and drawing four under manager Luis Enrique. Recent form includes a 7-0 demolition of fourth-tier outfit Saint-Brieuc in the French Cup quarter-finals, illustrating their attacking threat. In the match, forward Gonçalo Ramos scored a hat trick, making his record six goals and three assists in the last eight appearances. Ousmane Dembélé has been in sparkling form, scoring 17 times in 13 games in 2025 — 1 more than he managed for the whole of the previous season.
Liverpool: With a 13-point cushion at the top of the Premier League, Arne Slot has kept Liverpool in command. They have won six of their last eight in the league, scoring at least two goals every match. Mohamed Salah has been key, topping the Premier League goal scorers’ list with 25 goals and providing 17 assists, three short of the league record. They have had injury concerns, with defender Joe Gomez having to go under the knife for a hamstring problem and youngster Conor Bradley also out with a thigh issue.
Tactical Battle
It will be all about the tactical approach of both managers. Luis Enrique has his PSG side set up in an attacking formation, and they always tend to press high, suffocating the opposition. A fast, inventive, and clinical front pair of Dembélé and Ramos. With stability and vision established by a midfield led by Vitinha and João Neves, PSG can shift rapidly from defending to attacking.
On the other hand, Liverpool under Arne Slot is about balancing strong defenses with fast counters. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté make up a seemingly unbeatable defensive partnership, with a midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominic Szoboszlai typically controlling the ball and dictating play. Salah’s partnership with Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo, in addition to Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez, is a threat to any opposition.
Where will the game be won?
There has been a noticeable pattern in the history of this matchup, with each team enjoying playing at home. PSG may get a psychological edge from the atmosphere at Parc des Princes in the first leg, but it could be an advantage to Liverpool who return to Anfield for the second leg.
Both teams may have had their fair share of injuries, but in fairness, their injuries have not been as harsh as some other sides. Arne Slot is looking to win the UCL in his first season with Liverpool, while Luis Enrique wants to get the elusive trophy for the French champions. In the end, it will be a matter of how well both teams manage both matches.
