PSG v Liverpool: the tables have certainly turned…

More mature, more confident in their own abilities and now European champions, Paris Saint-Germain face Liverpool in a context that is completely different from last season. The capital club go into this first leg of the quarter-final with a status they did not yet possess back then.

Paris Saint-Germain is now a force to be reckoned with on the continental stage. Winners of the last Champions League, the Parc des Princes side face one of the teams they defeated on their glorious run – namely Liverpool – this Wednesday. This time, however, in a very different role.

A PSG that has reached new heights

Indeed, that two-legged tie marked a turning point. Beaten in the first leg (0-1) despite being clearly the better side, PSG found the resources to win at Anfield (0-1, 1-4 on penalties) and secure their qualification. It was a major mental breakthrough for a squad often criticised in big games. Since then, this team has grown, learnt to manage its emotions and, above all, to impose its style of play without faltering. Today, this is no longer a promising PSG; it is a PSG firmly established at the top.

This shift is also reflected in the results. This season in the Champions League, Paris have made a habit of hitting hard, particularly against English sides. Chelsea were swept aside (8-2 on aggregate), Tottenham were dominated (5-3), and even away from home, PSG have shown their ability to dictate the pace, as against Leverkusen (2-7). “We’ve already shown many times that the team takes responsibility and rises to the occasion,” Vitinha acknowledged to the press.

Liverpool are a different side

In contrast, the difference is striking. Liverpool no longer carry the same aura as last season. Even during the two-legged tie in 2025, the Parisians had been surprised by the Reds’ true quality, to the point of emerging from the first leg… even more confident despite the defeat. This time, the doubt is far more evident on the English side. The heavy defeat against Manchester City (4-0) last Saturday has left its mark, and the overall momentum is far less reassuring.

Above all, one factor changes everything compared to last year: the absence of Alisson Becker. The Brazilian goalkeeper had literally frustrated PSG at the Parc des Princes, making a string of decisive saves. Without him, Liverpool lose a key factor in this type of fixture. And against a PSG side capable of creating so many chances, this detail could prove decisive. Especially as, even in their talk, Paris no longer seem impressed. “You’re the ones calling us favourites. Last year, you were saying Liverpool were the favourites,” Vitinha pointed out, proof that the tables have turned.