Three PSG strengths Liverpool and co. need to be fearful of – and three weaknesses Champions League opponents can exploit

The Champions League is back with one hell of a bang this week. The most eagerly anticipated tie of game week one comes in Group C, with PSG travelling to Anfield to take on Liverpool this Tuesday.

Paris Saint-Germain owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi has never hidden his desire to secure a Champions League title and believes Thomas Tuchel could be the man to guide the French side to European glory. He even labelled the German as ‘the best coach in the world’ in a recent interview.

Liverpool, of course, made it all the way to last season’s final and will feel they are more than capable of going one step further this season.

So, as we gear up for what will be one of the most intriguing ties of this seasons competition, what are the strengths and weaknesses of a PSG side that will be desperate to prove that they mean business in Europe this season?

PSG’s strengths

Magical front 3

This is a tie that is being built up as one that will see the two best attacking trios in Europe come up against each other and with good reason, too.

We saw how destructive Liverpool’s front line of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino can be last season, but PSG’s illustrious attacking options give them a real run for their money.

Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Edinson Cavani are certain to provide Liverpool’s defence with their biggest headache of the season so far. That is a Liverpool defence that has only conceded two goals in their first five matches this season and one that Jürgen Klopp will feel could give them an extra edge in Europe, too. This, though, will be the ultimate test.

The trio scored 17 goals between them in the Champions League last season and look hungrier than ever ahead of the beginning of this year’s competition. Tuchel’s decision to rest Mbappe and Neymar in Friday’s 4-0 victory over St Etienne proves just how determined PSG are to perform in Europe this season.

Cavani will look to occupy Liverpool’s centre-halves, leaving space for Mbappe and Neymar to cause havoc. Service will be key, but if the Reds are to switch off at any stage of this game, you can be sure that they will be punished.

Experience

They have failed to go all the way in the Champions League, but this is a side littered with players that know how to win.

The likes of Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Marco Verratti and that all-important attacking trio are all players that have been performing on this stage for a number of years.

Club captain Silva has won an incredible 18 trophies since his arrival at the club in 2012 and he, along with a number of other players have also taken part in some huge matches for their countries.

European nights at Anfield are known to play host to some of the most electric atmospheres in football, but given the experience in this PSG side, you’d expect them to be one of the teams in this year’s competition that will be least fazed by the roars from The Kop.

Tuchel familiar with Jürgen Klopp

The PSG boss has only been able to win one of the twelve encounters he’s faced against Klopp so far, but he knows what he’s all about.

Tuchel has followed a similar career path to the Liverpool manager, arriving at Borussia Dortmund from Mainz 05 in 2015, just as Klopp did in 2008.

After a positive start to his time at the Signal Iduna Park, things didn’t quite work out for Tuchel as he’d have hoped, but he’s now been given another crack at the big time at one of the most exciting sides in Europe.

He has spoken of his admiration for Klopp on many occasions during the past and recently claimed that this Liverpool side is one of the favourites to go all the way in the Champions League this season.

PSG’s determination to land a Champions League title will have seen Tuchel do plenty of homework on Klopp’s Liverpool side. A fascinating tactical battle looks to be in store for us on Tuesday night.

PSG’s weaknesses

Defensive frailties

It’s a defence full of experience, but there have been one or two signs that PSG’s backline could struggle when the going gets tough this season.

Tuchel actually had some similar issues during his time with Dortmund – full-backs exposed and centre-halves dragged out of position. PSG are, of course, a very positive side on the ball, but they must make sure that they’re solid and organised at the back, too. Leave any space for this Liverpool front line and they will punish you.

They have conceded four goals in five Ligue 1 matches so far this season but are yet to come up against a side that you’d expect to cause them significant problems.

There are also a couple of selection dilemmas for Tuchel to mull over before Tuesday night. So far this season, the PSG boss has used both Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos alongside Thiago Silva in the heart of the defence and there has also been a void at left-back, with Layvin Kurzawa currently injured. The summer arrival of Juan Bernat is likely to help in that respect, but an away game at Anfield would be an incredibly tough first match in the Champions League for his new club if he was to be selected.

Void in No.6 position

Thomas Tuchel admitted last week that he would have loved to have signed a new number six to replace Thiago Motta in the summer transfer window, but no suitable deal was forthcoming.

He has since tinkered with the idea of using Marquinhos as a holding midfield player and suggested that the Brazilian, who is usually deployed as a centre-back, has the necessary qualities to play in that position.

33-year-old Lassana Diarra is the other option for this role and played in Friday’s victory over St Etienne. Marquinhos was an unused substitute having only returned from international duty with Brazil the day before and it seems likely that he will get the nod over Diarra on Tuesday.

Midfield maestro Marco Verratti would be an option to fill in but is suspended having been sent off in PSG’s previous Champions League clash against Real Madrid last season.

With the likes of James Milner, Naby Keita and Gini Wijnldum all impressing for Liverpool in the final third this season, PSG must make sure that there are no problems in the centre of the park at Anfield.

Poor Champions League record

For all of their big spending in recent years, the Parisians have been knocked out in the quarter-finals in each of their last four Champions League campaigns since 2012/13.

This is a record that needs to be overcome sooner rather than later. PSG spent around £366m on Neymar and Mbappe last summer with the intention of going all the way in Europe and another underwhelming campaign this season could see both of them players become ever more frustrated.

With this poor record comes an increasing amount of pressure on both the players and the staff. Previous manager Unai Emery ultimately lost his job as a result of the club’s failure to perform in Europe. The French side have been dealt with a tough group including Liverpool and Napoli this season and face a tough battle to even make it through to the knockout stages.

It’s time for the likes of Mbappe, Neymar and Cavani to step up to the plate in Europe and bring PSG’s Champions League misery to an end once and for all.

Predicted line-up vs Liverpool

French publication RMC are reporting that Marquinhos will, in fact, get the nod as the No. 6 on Tuesday, with Bernat making his first Champions League appearance for the club at left-back.

Interestingly, with Verratti suspended, Angel Di Maria is expected to appear as part of the midfield 3, with that all-important attacking trio also set to start.

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