Liverpool’s skipper, Virgil van Dijk, anticipates an even greater challenge from Paris Saint Germain when they meet at Anfield this week, following a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg.
During the opening match of their Champions League Round of 16 tie at the Parc des Princes, Liverpool found themselves largely outperformed. However, after Harvey Elliott came on for Mohamed Salah, he managed to secure a remarkable last-gasp goal, clinching an unexpected victory.
PSG’s coach, Luis Enrique, arrives on Merseyside acutely aware that his team must find the back of the net to have any hope of advancing, a daunting task on Liverpool’s home turf.
Van Dijk has emphasised that the Reds will be well-prepared for what he expects to be an even tougher contest against the Ligue 1 leaders, who opted to rest several key players during their weekend match against Rennes.
“I regard them as a remarkable team, a fantastic outfit, with impressive work ethic on display,” he commented.
“We obviously debriefed after the match and it was evident that when they lost possession, they pressed collectively and worked as a unit.”
“That’s a huge credit to the manager for instilling such discipline and turning them into a world-class side.”
“It’s going to be a tough encounter on Tuesday, and everyone will witness it. Those who expected us to dominate based on our prior games clearly didn’t analyse PSG sufficiently this season.”
The seasoned defender noted that it’s crucial for the team to handle what promises to be a nerve-wracking match, reflecting on PSG’s dominance in the previous leg.
“We prepared thoroughly, and while we could have improved in certain aspects, we acknowledge that Tuesday will be equally challenging, if not more so, as they will come out looking to secure a win.”
“It’s essential for us to be perfectly primed for a significant night. Everyone must contribute—players, staff, and fans alike.”
“We hope it’s a memorable night for us, but we know it’ll require hard work, as they’re a top-tier team, and they demonstrated that against us already.”
The last European encounter between Liverpool and PSG saw the Reds triumph 3-2 during the group stage at Anfield, with Roberto Firmino scoring a dramatic late winner.
“I can recall that during that group stage, we lost all our away matches and had to turn things around at home,” he reflected.
“We were fortunate in the Napoli match, where Ali came to our rescue. Football is all about fine margins. Bobby’s decisive goal against PSG was nothing short of spectacular and crucial, but as I’ve said before, this challenge will be exceedingly difficult.”
“We need our supporters to be at their best to help us progress. That’s our primary focus at the moment, and we’ll take it from there.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
