PSG BENEFITS FROM FRIDAY FIXTURE AS LIVERPOOL RECOVERS FROM SATURDAY’S HIGH-INTENSITY CLASH
PSG beats Toulouse 3-1 as Ousmane Dembele scores twice. See why Luis Enrique is confident facing Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
Liverpool’s got no time to catch its breath after losing to Manchester City on Saturday. Now comes the real test: Arne Slot’s team has to face the defending European champs next.
Honestly, after that 4-0 thumping at the Etihad, hope among Liverpool fans is pretty thin. The Champions League feels like the only shot at any kind of glory this season, but even that seems far-fetched right now. They’re heading to France to play PSG in the first leg of the quarter-final, and Luis Enrique’s squad had a way easier time this weekend.
While Liverpool struggled big time against Haaland and his crew, PSG cruised to a 3-1 win over Toulouse. Ousmane Dembele showed why he’s a Ballon d’Or winner; he scored two goals, one before and one after Toulouse’s strike. Then Goncalo Ramos sealed the deal in stoppage time.
PSG got to play on Friday, which means more rest and prep for the big Champions League clash. Enrique rotated his squad, resting three important players: Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and Joao Neves started on the bench but got minutes later. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia left just before the 70th minute, and Desire Doue was subbed out near the end.
Dembele and Achraf Hakimi, who hit their 200th club appearance, played the whole match. PSG really benefitted from Lens losing 3-0 to Lille too, solidifying their spot at the top.
Enrique seemed pretty pleased after the win. He said grabbing those points was crucial, especially after the international break. Lots of players came back tired, but PSG handled it. Playing on Friday made things harder, but now they’ve got some downtime before facing Liverpool.
Still, PSG’s victory wasn’t flawless. Matvei Safonov, their keeper, fumbled a cross that led to Toulouse’s goal. So now there’s talk about whether he should keep his place against Liverpool or if Lucas Chevalier gets the nod.
PSG heads into Wednesday’s showdown full of confidence. Liverpool, honestly, needs something special to turn things around.
PSG’S REQUEST FOR A WEEK OFF BETWEEN LIVERPOOL GAMES SPARKS DOMESTIC OUTRAGE
Paris Saint-Germain requests a Ligue 1 postponement against Lens to prepare for their Champions League tie with Liverpool.
Paris Saint-Germain is sticking to its request to postpone a Ligue 1 match so it can get ready for its big Champions League clash with Liverpool.
People have been poking fun at PSG for trying to move their game against Lens, another top team in the league. Lens flat-out rejected the idea. PSG pulled off something similar when they played Chelsea in Europe, and now they want another week off between their matches with Liverpool.
Right now, that Lens match falls right between the two Liverpool games. French media says the league will decide after the LFP board meets this Thursday.
Even with the criticism, PSG claims this isn’t just about them; it’s for the good of French football.
Le Parisien reports PSG’s message: they say their push to reschedule is organised, above board, and doesn’t undermine the competition. One club insider put it like this: Every French team in European competitions lifts the entire league. France is sitting in sixth place in the race for UEFA’s 2025-26 season, and getting to fifth would mean more French clubs in Europe – up to seven of them.
It’s not just pride that’s on the line; there’s cash and exposure, too. If two French teams make the European semi-finals, Ligue 1 gets a boost on and off the field.
PSG also pointed out that the league has moved matches for this exact reason plenty of times before, especially to help French clubs in Europe.
Lens, meanwhile, isn’t hiding how they feel. They released a statement making their opposition clear.
They said the whole thing makes it feel like Ligue 1 is just an afterthought, ready to change at a moment’s notice to suit European ambitions. They argue this simply isn’t fair, which, in their eyes, sets French football apart from other major leagues.
Lens says moving the game would mean they go fifteen days without playing, then suddenly play every three days. That’s a totally different schedule than what was agreed on at the start of the season, and it’s a load that could really mess with a club like theirs.
PSG VS LIVERPOOL: WHY LUIS ENRIQUE REFUSES TO NAME PSG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FAVORITES
Luis Enrique claims there is no favourite as PSG prepares to defend their title against Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
Paris Saint-Germain’s manager, Luis Enrique, is clear that there’s no obvious favourite as his team prepares to face Liverpool in their upcoming Champions League tie. Liverpool clinched their quarter-final spot with a dominant 4-0 win over Galatasaray on Wednesday, wrapping up the tie 4-1 on aggregate.
Liverpool, however, has had a tough time in the Premier League this season. Their 2-1 loss at Brighton left them in fifth place, and although that position might be enough to qualify for next season’s Champions League, their recent run of four games without a win puts that in question.
Another route into next season's Champions League is by winning the current tournament, but that path won’t be easy. Liverpool now face the defending champions, PSG, in the quarter-finals. The first leg is scheduled for April 8 in Paris, with the return leg at Anfield six days later.
Despite Liverpool’s struggles at home, Enrique refuses to pick between the two teams ahead of their showdown. These sides met in last season’s round of 16, with PSG progressing after a penalty shootout. Enrique reflected, “Liverpool holds good memories for us, of course. I remember last year. They were the best team in Europe then and playing incredible football.”
He added, “We’re looking forward to this quarter-final, first in Paris, then at Liverpool. I’m fortunate to have an incredible team and intelligent players. They know that when it comes to matches like these, no one is the clear favourite. Playing these two games will be very positive for us.”
Liverpool also still chases domestic silverware, with a tough FA Cup quarter-final clash against Manchester City just four days before their first leg against PSG.
Midfielder Florian Wirtz highlighted how crucial it is to build on any momentum from Europe and bring that energy into domestic matches. Before the Brighton loss, the 22-year-old explained, “It will be very important for us, also for our mindset and team spirit, to create momentum and an energy that helps us win all the upcoming games. It’s always better to have a good feeling and a good atmosphere in the dressing room because when you don’t win, the team isn’t happy.”
He finished by stressing, “It’s always better to win, and of course, we need the points. We’ll be ready for the game and try to take the three points home.”
