Reds seek to cure travel sickness
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE In the highstakes game, hosts PSG will look to capitalise on Liverpool’s poor away record in Europe
LONDON: Paris Saint-germain’s struggles to avoid an embarrassing group stage exit in the Champions League began when they fell victim to the aura of Anfield and Roberto Firmino’s stoppage time winner for Liverpool in September.
But with the roles reversed and the Premier League side headed to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday with PSG needing to win to keep qualification for the last 16 in their own hands, the French champions can take solace in the fact Liverpool pack a far weaker punch on the road in the Champions League.
Roma were reeling 5-0 down after just over an hour of last season’s semi-final first leg, PSG were outclassed this season despite the narrow margin of the 3-2 victory and Red Star Belgrade were dismissed 4-0 in October.
Last season Liverpool only secured victory on the road twice in Europe. They were then beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid in the final.
Two colossal errors by Loris Karius in that final pushed Liverpool to splash out a then world record fee for a goalkeeper in Alisson Becker as part of a £160 million summer spending spree that also brought in Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri.
And while an upturn in fortunes, particularly defensively, has been seen in an unbeaten start to the Premier League season, it has not yet cured Liverpool’s travel sickness in the Champions League.
Unless the German finds a way to stop the rot extending to five straight European defeats away from Anfield, Liverpool will likely need to beat Napoli by two goals to progress to the last 16.
“I don’t think there is any game in the world where you would say beforehand, ‘No chance Liverpool,’“Klopp admitted before his side beat PSG. “It is a different club to the club I joined. We got a lot of respect because of the way we played last season.”
But with that status comes the demand to land a knockout blow, even against another contender furnished with a near 500-million-euro forward line of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edison Cavani.
and Borussia Dortmund lead the group and have a chance to secure places in the knockout round in advance.
a draw at Club Brugge, while Atletico need a home win against Monaco. Atletico can also advance if Club Brugge lose points against Dortmund, who are coming off a blistering start to the season under new coach Lucien Favre.
for Favre so far was the 2-0 loss at Atletico in the team's previous Champions League appearance. But in-form striker Paco Alcacer’s signing on a permanent basis from Barcelona on Friday will be a welcome boost.
live on Sony Ten 2 & HD,
11: 25pm
Dortmund v Brugge, live on Sony Ten 3 & HD, 1:30am (Thu) Tottenham's Champions League hopes alive with a late double to sink PSV Eindhoven in the last round of games. Now, the striker has some back-up after attacking midfielders Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli returned from injuries with superb performances in Tottenham's 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Premier League.
Inter at Wembley to keep alive ambitions of a top-two finish. That would leave the teams tied on seven points. Tottenham would still likely require a win at already-qualified Barcelona to advance, given that Inter closes group play at home to last-place PSV.
without the injured Rafinha, Luis Suarez and Arthur, have a three-point advantage at the top and will clinch first place in the group with a win over PSV, or a draw if Inter do not beat Tottenham.
Tottenham v Inter, live on Sony Six & HD, 1:30am (Thu) PSV v Barcelona, live on Sony Ten 2 & HD, 1:30am (Thu) PSG v Liverpool, live on Sony
1:30am (Thu) OTHER MATCH
Napoli v Red Star Belgrade
with 10 points, host second-placed Schalke (8 points) in a match in which a draw could be enough for both clubs to advance.
a spot in the knockout stage with a draw if Galatasaray fail to win their match at already eliminated Lokomotiv Moscow.
first place for Porto, who have won eight straight games entering the match at their Estadio do Dragao. Lokomotiv Moscow v Galatasaray, live on Sony Six & HD, 11:25pm
OTHER MATCH
Porto v Schalke