Liverpool face Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain tonight at the Parc des Princes, but eight players could miss the game.
Arne Slott during a Liverpool training session (Image: (Molly Darlington/Getty Images))
Alexander Isak has given Liverpool a big boost ahead of their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Isaac was selected in the Reds squad for the match at the Parc des Princes.
The forward returned to first-team training last week after 15 weeks on the sidelines, but was left out of the squad for Saturday’s 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City. However, the Sweden international is set to return to action for the first time since breaking a bone in his foot following a challenge from Micky van de Ven during his side’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur just before Christmas.
Speaking on the eve of the game, manager Arne Slott confirmed that Isak would not start in Paris but could feature if needed. He said: “He has completed nearly a week of team training sessions. He can play a role, but otherwise I won’t take him.”
“I didn’t take him to the Etihad because I felt he couldn’t perform yet. We think we can get performance out of him now, but we’re not starting now.”
However, Liverpool will be without Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Stefan Bicetic and Giovanni Leoni for this match. Allison is expected to return by the end of the season, but Bradley, Endo, Bicetic and Leoni are not expected to return until next season.
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“He won’t even take part in the Paris Saint-Germain game,” Slott said last week when asked about Alisson. “He will be out for a little longer. Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit again.”
PSG, on the other hand, are expected to be without Bradley Barcola, Fabian Ruiz and Quentin Nzhantu for this match.
The Ligue 1 champions confirmed on Tuesday that Barcola has returned to full training and is working his way back to full fitness, but French media reports Barcola is not at risk.
However, coach Luis Enrique said in a press conference on Tuesday: “If he (Barcola) is still unwell, he won’t play tomorrow. He had a partial training session yesterday and a full training session today. He will be back. We are looking for the best conditions. When he is ready, he will tell us. He lacks a little confidence.”
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Luis Enrique before playing against Chelsea in the Champions League (Image: (Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images))
Enrique said of the match: “We will try to keep the ball more than Liverpool. Liverpool are a very good team with quality players and a very good manager. It will be difficult.”
“The quarter-finals are obviously a special game because there are only eight teams, and once you start getting used to this level, it’s great for us as a team.
“Of course it’s positive to show that against Liverpool. What we want is to qualify. We know it’s difficult, but we’re very motivated. We’re looking forward to playing at Parc.”
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