Will PSG reach Champions League Semi Finals? The pros and the cons

PSG have secured a dominating 2-0 victory over the Reds at the Parc des Princes in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final. The European have a massive opportunity to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the competition if they avoid a remontada at Anfield.

Will PSG reach Champions League Semi Finals?

The Pros:

Let’s face it, PSG should be reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. Last season, they went to a second leg at Anfield trailing by a goal against a brilliant Liverpool side that had all but wrapped up the Premier League title by then. Now, they travel to Anfield two goals up, and playing a Liverpool side that looks entirely disenchanted: rarely has Anfield seemed a less intimidating stadium than this season in which Liverpool have already lost home games to PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest. Liverpool will also have to navigate a home game this weekend against Marco Silva’s Fulham: by no means a given, especially given Arne Slot’s side’s poor form.

PSG, on the other hand, have got the weekend off, as what could have been a title deciding fixture against Lens has been moved due to PSG’s European progress. It means that the Parisians can fully focus on their trip to England next week, a country in which they have won more games than they have lost in the Champions League. Since 2018-19, PSG have won twice at Old Trafford, once at Anfield, once at Stamford Bridge and once at the Emirates, an exceptional record that some top English clubs could wish to boast themselves.

Furthermore, PSG’s front men seem to be firing on all cylinders, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hitting his best form of the season so far, while Ousmane Dembélé and Desiré Doué have also looked devastating in recent games. And while it’s true that Liverpool have been poor this season, even the most pessimistic of Reds fans might have been shocked at just how outclassed the Champions of England looked on Wednesday, as PSG played round the Reds with complete serenity.

As if all of that were not enough, PSG go into the game with mental superiority: they went to Anfield and won last season, and so should not feel as so many have, pressured by the stadium.

The Cons:

Speaking of Anfield, probably the biggest (and maybe only) argument in favour of a Liverpool comeback and qualification is the stadium at which the game will be played.

We have seen crazy European nights at Anfield too often for this to be a write-off, with perhaps the most notable example being that crazy comeback in 2019 against Lionel Messi’s Barcelona, where the Reds turned over a 3-0 deficit in a hectic second leg. PSG will be fully aware of this strength Liverpool can have in their home stadium, having themselves come under serious pressure last season at Anfield, although they then managed to hold out and win the tie.

Overall, PSG should logically progress to the semi-finals, but you just never know what Liverpool are capable of at their famous old stadium. Either way, it should be a fascinating second leg and another test of this PSG side’s character.