Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for tonight's
Champions League Group C clash between
Paris Saint-Germain and
Liverpool at the Parc des Princes!
This is the closest group in the competition this season with just two points separating all four teams heading into matchday five, and Napoli, Liverpool and PSG are all separated by just the one point. It is all to play for tonight, then, and this match could be make or break for these two sides in their Champions League hopes.
We will take an in-depth look at both a little later, but first let's check out the team news...
PSG STARTING XI: Buffon; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Verratti, Marquinhos; Mbappe,
Neymar, Di Maria; Cavani
PSG SUBS: Areole, Alves, Choupo-Moting, Draxler, Rabiot, Diaby, Nsoki
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Gomez, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Fabinho, Keita, Sturridge, Shaqiri, Matip, Alexander-Arnold
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, the headline news is that Kylian Mbappe and Neymar - the world's two most expensive players - both start as expected, having missed the weekend win over Toulouse through injuries sustained during the international break.
Both players took part in training earlier this week so it will come as no surprise to Klopp that they are on the teamsheet, but it is a huge boost for PSG considering the impact those two can have on a game.
It speaks volumes for the quality of Mbappe's fledgling career so far that it is hard to say whose return is the most important for PSG, with both players posting ludicrous numbers both last season and so far this term.
Mbappe leads the way this season with 11 goals in just nine Ligue 1 appearances so far, while he has also been directly involved in 11 goals from his last 10 Champions League group stages games, scoring six times and providing five assists.
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Let us not forget Neymar, though, with the Brazilian having hit a not-too-shabby total of 10 goals in 11 league games so far this season too, while his Champions League numbers are even more impressive - nine goals and four assists in his 11 matches for the club in this competition.
In the unlikely event that both of them are not firing, PSG can then call upon Edinson Cavani, who himself as nine goals in nine games and scored the only goal of the game against Toulouse at the weekend.
There is an embarrassment of riches up front for PSG, then, and we have not even mentioned Angel Di Maria yet.
Further back it is a team full of quality too, and the teamsheet suggests that they will switch back to a 4-2-3-1 system tonight - although the personnel selected could also enable them to continue with the recently-favoured 3-4-3 formation.
There are four changes from the weekend as Kehrer and Bernat come in alongside Neymar and Mbappe, while Dani Alves again makes the bench having had his first taste of action at the weekend. Buffon gets the nod in goal.
For Liverpool, the main piece of news is that Sadio Mane starts despite reports earlier this week suggesting that he might be a doubt due to illness, although he was back in training yesterday so his inclusion is also not a surprise one.
The Senegal international completes a front three with PSG keeper Buffon ranked as the best in the world ahead of even his own side's, with Firmino - the match-winner in the reverse fixture and goalscorer at the weekend, spearheading that.
As was so often the case last season, Mohamed Salah is the man who has been in the hottest form out of those three, though, and Klopp said in the build-up to this match that he is 100% back to his best after struggling a little at the start of the season.
Salah's opening goal against Watford at the weekend made it six in his last seven games across all competitions, which certainly isn't the form of a one-season wonder.
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At the other end of the pitch there is a return for Joe Gomez, who missed the trip to Vicarage Road due to a minor ankle injury he sustained in training on the Friday.
The England international is back in the side today, though, and interestingly takes the place of Alexander-Arnold - a goalscorer at Watford - rather than Lovren. Gomez will therefore play at right-back, with Lovren continuing to partner the imperious Van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
Gomez's return is one of only two changes from that win over Watford, with
James Milner also coming back into the starting lineup as Shaqiri drops out and Klopp restores his 4-3-3 formation.
Milner joins Wijnaldum and Henderson in that midfield trio, the latter of whom was sent off against Watford but is eligible to play tonight as the ban only applies to domestic competition. Fabinho - who has been linked with a move to PSG in recent days - is on the bench alongside Keita and Sturridge.
They are two teams packed with quality - particularly in the final third - which should hopefully lead to an entertaining and open contest this evening.
Often such big occasions with so much riding on the result can disappoint somewhat, but it is hard to see that happening with these two attack-minded teams. It really is a must-not-lose game for PSG, but they never go into games with that mentality and you can be sure that they will be looking to come away with all three points from the very first minute until the very last tonight.
PSG currently sit outside the qualifying spots for Group C and are the most vulnerable of the three big teams in the group heading into the penultimate game, but they also have the benefit of this match being at home and their final game being against Red Star, who they would be expected to beat.
Liverpool will caution against the dangers of underestimating the Belgrade outfit, though, and it is worth remembering that Red Star are also still in with a chance of reaching the last 16 from this group, with all four teams separated by only two points.
Tonight's result has enormous consequences for PSG, who covet this trophy above all others but find themselves potentially 90 minutes away from crashing out in the group stages tonight.
Defeat at the hands of Liverpool, coupled with a win for Napoli at home to Red Star, sees PSG eliminated tonight and leaves them facing Europa League football at best in the New Year. Victory, though, lifts them into the top two and would make them overwhelming favourites to reach the last 16, so it really is make or break for the home side tonight.
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It is almost inconceivable that PSG could find themselves in this position considering how dominant they have been on the domestic front, sweeping all before them in Ligue 1 to make a record-breaking start to the campaign.
Incredibly, PSG have won all 14 of their top-flight matches so far this season, smashing both their club record for successive league wins and the all-time record for the best start to a campaign in one of Europe's top five leagues.
All of that has left Thomas Tuchel's side a whopping 15 points clear at the top of the table after only 14 games.
However, despite all of that success in Ligue 1, defeat tonight could realistically raise questions over
Thomas Tuchel's future considering that the Champions League is really how PSG measure the success of their season.
PSG were handed a difficult group, but their tally of five points is their second-lowest at this stage of a Champions League group in its current format, having lost to Liverpool, beaten Red Star and then drawn home and away against Napoli.
Indeed, PSG actually come into this match having won just one of their last seven Champions League matches, with that coming in the win over Red Star at the Parc des Princes this season - a poor record for a team with realistic ambitions of lifting the trophy.
PSG have at least scored in all of their last 20 Champions League games, though, stretching back to a 1-0 defeat against Manchester City in the 2015-16 quarter-finals.
The Ligue 1 giants are also unbeaten in their last 20 home group stage games in this competition, winning 15 and drawing five of those in a run which stretches back to December 2004.
Only two of their last 49 European home games of any description have ended in defeat - losing to Barcelona in 2014-15 and Real Madrid last season en route to crashing out in the last 16.
It would be a huge scalp if Liverpool were able to pull off a win tonight, then, but there are few teams in world football who look as well matched as PSG if they do choose to fight fire with fire.
Nevertheless, they are the underdogs heading into this match - despite Tuchel's suggestions to the contrary - and know that defeat would likely leave them with a lot of work to do in their final group game at home to Napoli on December 11.
A draw would most likely mean that Liverpool would need to beat Napoli, but a defeat could see them require a win by more than one goal against the Italian outfit.
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Jurgen Klopp will not be worrying about the possible permutations of that Anfield match at this stage, but rather what his side need to do in order to prevent that difficult final-day clash with Napoli.
In that regard the equation is fairly simple - a Liverpool win coupled with Red Star failing to win away to Napoli would see the Reds through with a game to spare. The Reds currently sit second in the group, behind Napoli on head-to-head record only but above PSG by one point.
Liverpool's Champions League campaign began with victory over PSG as they needed Firmino to come off the bench and score a stoppage-time winner, although the Reds should have been long out of sight before PSG launched their comeback from two goals down.
Aside from that, Liverpool were on the wrong end of an away goal in their defeat at the hands of Napoli on matchday two before thrashing Red Star 4-0 at home and losing 2-0 away.
It is that latter result which has really made things tricky for Liverpool, who would have been three points clear and needing simply a point tonight to guarantee their place in the last 16 had they won.
In the end, though, Liverpool could have few complaints at losing in Belgrade and now Klopp's side may need four points from these final two games to progress. Breaking their recent poor away form tonight would certainly be an ideal start.
Liverpool have now lost four of their last six European matches including the second leg of the semi-final and then the final itself last season, while away from home it is three defeats in a row for the Reds.
Never before in their illustrious history have Liverpool lost four successive European away games, but despite some of their best performances of last season's run to the semi-final coming on the road, Klopp's side have now won just five of their last 21 such outings.
Indeed, Liverpool are yet to even score a goal away from home in this season's competition, losing to Napoli 1-0 and then suffering that costly defeat to Red Star last time out.
The Reds are therefore trying to avoid another piece of unwanted history tonight, having never before lost all three of their away Champions League group games in the competition's current guise.
There was some joy on the road at the weekend as Liverpool were patient en route to a 3-0 win over Watford - just their second away win in their last six across all competitions.
That victory extended their unbeaten Premier League start to 13 matches and kept them in touch with title rivals Manchester City at the top of the table, although they will be expecting a much more open and free-flowing game tonight I am sure.
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Parc des Princes, which means that it is time for a prediction!
This one is a tough one to call as it could easily go either way - and could easily be a big score either way too. Games of this magnitude can often be tight and tense affairs, but neither of these teams play like that so hopefully we will see an attacking contest. We can't split them, so we're sitting on the fence with this one.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: PSG 2-2 Liverpool
Tonight will be just the fourth meeting between these two sides, the most recent of which came in September at Anfield of course.
There were goals on that occasion too, although Liverpool squandered a host of chances before PSG came from 2-0 down to level things up late on. It looked as though Mbappe's equaliser might be enough to earn a point, but Firmino popped up with an even later winner which could yet prove crucial in this group stage.
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The other two occasions these sides have met came in the 1996-97 Cup Winners' Cup final, when PSG won 3-0 on Liverpool's only previous trip to face them on French soil.
Liverpool almost clawed their way back into the tie with a 2-0 victory back at Anfield, when Robbie Fowler was among the scorers, but PSG held on for the aggregate victory before going on to be beaten by Barcelona in the final.
PSG come into this match without a win in their last five games against English opposition stretching back to 2015-16, although they have only lost one of their eight home games against Premier League teams.
Liverpool, by comparison, have lost just once in their last seven away games against French opposition, although they are without a win in three and their overall record stands at five wins, two draws and seven defeats from 14 visits.
Right, the players are on their way out and we're just about ready to get started now. A reminder of the team news before we do get underway...
PSG STARTING XI: Buffon; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Verratti, Marquinhos; Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria; Cavani
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Gomez, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
KICKOFF: Here we go, then! PSG get us underway at the Parc des Princes!
SHOT! PSG are not hanging about here. They have almost got in behind on a couple of occasions and Mbappe has a shooting chance here, but he drags his effort wide of the target via a slight deflection.
Liverpool respond with their first break as Firmino tries to back-heel the ball to Salah inside the box, but it is hooked behind for a corner.
SAVE! A good spell of possession from PSG eventually sets up a volleyed chance for Di Maria, whose dipping volley is heading for the corner until Alisson parries it away.
The resulting corner is played short and Neymar clips a cross into the box for a completely unmarked Silva, who sees his header really well saved by Alisson. The offside flag is raised - wrongly, as it turns out - but Alisson didn't know that.
There have just been a few warning signs for Liverpool already tonight, with PSG looking sharp on the ball and asking some questions of the Liverpool defence early on. It has been played at a really good tempo so far.
UPDATE: There has been a goal in the group's other game, where Napoli have taken the lead against Red Star through Marek Hamsik.
SAVE! PSG move up the gears as Mbappe flicks the ball in to Neymar, who is taken down by Milner. The ball breaks kindly for Mbappe, though, and the winger fires his effort into the arms of Alisson.
GOAL! PSG 1-0 LIVERPOOL (JUAN BERNAT)
GOAL! PSG make the breakthrough after just 13 minutes as Liverpool fall asleep at the back!
There is too much space for the hosts to drive forward as Verratti slides a pass in for Mbappe, whose subsequent low ball into the box was only half-cleared by Van Dijk. Bernat was the quickest to react, cutting inside before dragging his finish past Alisson.
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This is a huge test for Liverpool now. They are yet to test the keeper or really pose much of an attacking threat, with PSG in control of this one at the moment.
YELLOW CARD! Wijnaldum picks up the first yellow card of the night as Wijnaldum clatters in to Neymar after some nice link-up play with Mbappe.
Neymar tries to play it in early and catch the Liverpool defence out, but Alisson is alert and comes off his line to claim it.
Neymar clips another early free kick in behind which Mbappe almost gets onto the end of. The hosts are just half-a-yard quicker with everything at the moment - they look a lot sharper than Liverpool.
Liverpool try a few more direct balls in the last few minutes as they look to get further forward and put pressure on the PSG defence. Decent response from the visitors.
SHOT! Liverpool do win the ball high up the field and Milner cuts the ball back for Salah, who clips a nothing finish wide of the near post when he would have been better off going for the opposite corner.
YELLOW CARD! Verratti is a little fortunate here. He goes into a high and heavy challenge on Gomez, catching him after the ball had gone. I have seen them result in red cards, but the referee quickly produces just a yellow.
Liverpool are certainly seeing more of the ball inside PSG territory at the moment, with the hosts having dropped off a little since the goal. Still no real threat to Buffon's goal, though.
Liverpool are missing that one telling piece of quality in the final third at the moment. They have grown into this game, but need to make more of their promising positions.
Better from the visitors as Milner reaches the byline and stands the ball up to the back post where Firmino meets it, knocking it back into a dangerous area. There are no red shirts in the middle to take advantage, though.
CHANCE! Lightning break from PSG as Neymar drives forward before sliding a pass to Mbappe, who in turn puts a teasing low cross into the box. Alisson is down bravely at the feet of Cavani to deny the Uruguayan, though, and moments later he plucks Neymar's attempted lob out of the air.
UPDATE: All of the Champions League goals so far tonight have come in this group, and Napoli have got another against Red Star - Dries Mertens have doubled their advantage.
YELLOW CARD! Gomez picks up a yellow for dragging Neymar back in order to stop an attack.
Just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half here and Liverpool are holding their own now, but it is still PSG who look most likely to score. They can just break so quickly.
GOAL! PSG 2-0 LIVERPOOL (NEYMAR)
GOAL! Ah - the commentator's curse strikes again.
PSG win the ball back inside their own half and proceed to rip Liverpool apart with a devastating break. Neymar exchanges passes with Mbappe before then releasing the winger down the left. His low ball into the box is met by Cavani, whose effort is really well saved by Alisson.
However, the ball then falls to Neymar, who passes the rebound into the bottom corner.
It is a long, long way back for Liverpool now. When PSG's attackers are in this type of form they are nigh-on impossible to stop.
Quite a list of names for Neymar to be leading...
The silver lining for Liverpool is that they don't actually have to worry about goal difference in this match. Defeat by whatever margin tonight would still leave them needing to beat Napoli by more than one goal on matchday six.
Almost a chance for Salah as Henderson clips a pass over the defence and Salah gets on the wrong side of his marker. He tries to prod it goalwards, but just cannot get on the end of it.
PENALTY! Penalty to Liverpool as Di Maria dives into a very rash challenge on Mane! The referee initially pointed for a corner, but he was corrected by the official and the right decision is reached eventually! That one was as clear as you are likely to see!
GOAL! PSG 2-1 LIVERPOOL (JAMES MILNER, PENALTY)
GOAL! No mistake from Milner as he sends Buffon the wrong way and gives Liverpool a route back into this match right on the stroke of half time. Exactly what the visitors needed!
HALF TIME: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 2-1 LIVERPOOL
The first half comes to an end at the Parc des Princes and it is PSG who are deservedly in control of the game, but Liverpool gave themselves a lifeline right on the stroke of half time.
PSG have been by far the better team in this match so far, but in a role reversal of the Anfield fixture it is Liverpool who had kept themselves in the game.
The opening goal arrived after just 13 minutes when some cloppy Liverpool defending allowed Verratti to find Mbappe and his subsequent low cross was only cleared as far as Bernat.
Lovren and Gomez were both slow to react to the danger inside their own box and were flat-footed as Bernat cut inside before dragging his finish past Alisson at the near post.
Liverpool did grow into the game after that, but PSG continued to look dangerous and it was no real surprise when Neymar started and finished a devastating counter-attack to double his side's lead.
The Brazilian exchanged passes with Mbappe to break out down the left flank before Mbappe's low cross into the box found Cavani, who was denied by Alisson. There was nothing the keeper could do to prevent the ball from falling at the feet of Neymar, though, and he tucked away his finish.
It looked like a long way back for Liverpool after that second goal, but a rash challenge from Di Maria inside his own area gifted the visitors a penalty right on the stroke of half time.
The referee - who had earlier missed a red-card challenge from Verratti - initially only awarded a corner, but he was advised otherwise by his officials and James Milner made no mistake from the spot.
KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway for the second half in Paris!
DISALLOWED GOAL! PSG think that they have made a perfect start to the half as Marquinhos pokes the ball beyond Alisson from a corner, but the offside flag is correctly raised!
Positive start to the half from PSG but Liverpool try to respond here as Milner plays a low ball into the box which is cleared away.
UPDATE: Napoli are making light work of Red Star - they are now 3-0 up at the Stadio San Paolo through Mertens's second of the night. Elsewhere, Porto have taken the lead against Schalke.
Neymar gets a shot away from range which trickles into the arms of Alisson, but the referee pulls play back for a very soft free kick.
UPDATE: A quickfire double for Porto; they now lead Schalke 2-0 having been goalless at the break.
Better from Liverpool as Mane slides the ball in for Robertson, who reaches the byline for the first time tonight. Silva makes a flying block to deny the low cross, though, and then screams at the crowd to up the noise levels again.
You can just sense that Liverpool's belief levels are starting to grow here! Salah almost breaks into the box and then Kimpembe is almost caught inside his own area by Firmino. The visitors are very much in this game now!
UPDATE: Red Star have pulled a goal back against Napoli to make it 3-1, but surely it is took big an ask for them. Elsewhere, Lionel Messi has given Barcelona the lead against PSV.
CHANCE! Chance for Liverpool here as Robertson's cross into the box takes a slight deflection on the way through. Firmino still meets it, but he puts his header wide of the target.
Liverpool are certainly looking a lot more capable of getting something out of this game now than they were for long spells in the first half. PSG no longer have that control over the contest, and the game is beginning to open up a little now.
Some frustration is just beginning to creep in for the PSG players and fans. The hosts are defending really well at the moment, but are not looking anywhere near as dangerous going forward.
PSG SUBS: Tuchel clearly isn't happy with his side as he makes a double change here. Dani Alves and Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting replace Cavani and Di Maria.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool also make a change as Naby Keita replaces Wijnaldum.
UPDATE: Barcelona have now doubled their advantage against PSV, with Pique joining Messi on the scoresheet.
CHANCE! Brilliant save from Alisson to keeper Liverpool in this game! Neymar swings a corner into the box which Marquinhos meets with a towering downward header, but it is just too close to Alisson who reacts really well to turn it away!
LIVERPOOL SUB: Klopp makes another change here as Daniel Sturridge replaces Firmino.
Thiago Silva needs some treatment here, although he has spent plenty of time on the floor in this second half. One suspects a certain degree of gamesmanship here.
Just 15 minutes remaining in this match now, and it is still very finely poised. It has been a lot like a mirror image of the Anfield match, when PSG scored in the 83rd minute to equalise.
LIVERPOOL SUB: A third and final change for the visitors sees Xherdan Shaqiri replace Milner. Two players from Stoke's relegation season on the field now!
UPDATE: BIG goal at Wembley as Tottenham may well have kept their qualification hopes alive through Eriksen, who has given them the lead against Inter Milan.
The home fans wants a penalty as Neymar shows great footwork to earn a yard in the box before being brought down by Van Dijk. The referee says no and points to the ball, but there is a question over whether he went through the leg of Neymar first.
Time is ticking away for Liverpool now. There is still the lifeline of Napoli at home to come, but a late equaliser here would make that task a little bit easier.
YELLOW CARD! Sturridge picks up a yellow for pulling back Verratti. He tried but failed to stop a counter which ended with Mbappe blasting wide of the near post.
PSG SUB: A third and final change for the hosts sees Mbappe replaced by Adrien Rabiot.
Salah breaks down the left flank but sees Marquinhos come across to sweep up and the ball comes off Salah last for a goal kick. Silva and Marquinhos celebrate with a chest bump - they have both been very good tonight.
Free kick to Liverpool in a very promising position as Salah is brought down by Kimpembe!
There will be five minutes of added time at the end of this match.
YELLOW CARD! Van Dijk picks up a late yellow for a foul on Alves.
SAVE! Neymar fires the resulting free kick towards the bottom corner, but Alisson is across to turn it wide.
YELLOW CARD! Robertson also goes into the book for a heavy challenge on Neymar.
YELLOW CARD! Neymar joins the growing list of players in the book.
YELLOW CARD! ... and Keita is shown a late yellow too!
FULL TIME: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 2-1 LIVERPOOL
Jubilant scenes at the full-time whistle as PSG hold on for a crucial victory over Liverpool which leaves them needing just a point against Red Star to progress into the last 16!
PSG were worthy of their half-time lead after goals from Bernat and Neymar, but Liverpool gave themselves a glimmer of hope through Milner's penalty on the stroke of half time. They could not find an equaliser, though, leaving them needing to beat Napoli by two clear goals at Anfield to progress.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as PSG hold on for a crucial 2-1 win over Liverpool which leaves the Reds' hopes of reaching the last 16 hanging by a thread. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
