PEREZ: I DIDN’T REFUSE TO PLAY FOR HAMMERS

ROBBIE FOWLER and Mark Wright were on the scoresheet in Liverpool’s most recent clash with Paris Saint-germain (2-0), the only time the French champions have visited Anfield. PSG are winless in their last four Champions League matches against English sides (D3 L1) and have only kept one clean sheet in their previous 12 such games, a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge during the 2004/05 group stages.

PSG striker Edinson Cavani has scored eight goals in 14 appearances in the Champions League against teams from England, including a goal in his last two such games (both versus Arsenal).

LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp has reached the knockout stages in four of his previous five Champions League campaigns as manager, losing two finals – in 2013 with Borussia Dortmund and 2018 with Liverpool. WEST HAM’S Lucas Perez has denied he declined to come on as a sub in Sunday’s win at Everton.

TV footage appeared to show the ex-arsenal striker refusing to come off the bench during the second half of the game.

Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini insisted after the match that there was no issue with the player. And Perez (above) wrote on social media: “I have never refused to warm up in my whole career, let alone play in a match.

“The coach called me to go out and play, but realising that it was faster to sub on Michail Antonio, who was at that moment warming up, he changed his decision.“