There’s no break for footballers in England’s Premier League with at least one mouth-watering clash not to be missed on Sunday! Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Champions League team news: Liverpool vs RB Leipzig and PSG vs Barca
In the Champions League last 16 tonight we will see Liverpool vs RB Leipzig and PSG vs Barcelona.
There’s no break for footballers in England’s Premier League with at least one mouth-watering clash not to be missed on Sunday! Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images
The Liverpool vs RB Leipzig encounter and PSG vs Barcelona matches are generating considerable buzz ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League last 16 clashes.
Liverpool vs RB Leipzig: Predicted teams
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Phillips, Robertson; Jones, Wijnaldum, Thiago Alcântara; Jota, Salah, Mané
Leipzig: Gulácsi; Adams, Mukiele, Upamecano, Klostermann; Sabitzer, Kampl; Haidar, Nkunku, Olmo; Poulsen
Liverpool vs RB Leipzig: Team news
Liverpool
Ozan Kabak is in doubt for the fixture and it seems won’t be risked with Fabinho almost nailed on to start at centre back.
Bobby Firmino is another Liverpool player with an injury concern and will allow Diogo Jota to start in the front three alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
RB Leipzig
The Germans have injury problems of their own with Willi Orbán and Angeliño absent. Liverpool target Dayo Upamecano is expected to be partnered by compatriot Nordi Mukiele at the heart of the Leipzig defence.
Konrad Laimer has not travelled to Hungary, but otherwise Leipzig have a full compliment of midfield and attacking players at their disposal.
Coach views
Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool manager: “We have momentum in the Champions League. Leipzig have a different momentum as they won the last four, but previous results don’t impact on the game. Why can we win the UEFA Champions League? Two things: the quality and football in general. You always have a chance in the next game. It’s half-time: we have to play the game. I have no doubt about us. We will give it a proper fight.”
Julian Nagelsmann, Leipzig coach: “It won’t be an easy task: the players know and I know. We must avoid the mistakes we made in the first leg. We will give everything we have and of course we can dream of delivering a great game. We haven’t produce a motivational video of great past comebacks, but the guys know that some crazy things have happened in football and such a result could be turned around in a second leg.”
Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona: Predicted teams
Paris: Navas; Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Kurzawa; Gueye, Paredes; Di María, Verratti, Mbappé; Icardi
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Mingueza, Lenglet, Umtiti/Araújo; Dest, De Jong, Busquets, Pedri, Alba; Messi, Dembélé
Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona: Team News
Alessandro Florenzi faces a race to be fit for PSG’s clash with Barcelona.
Neymar’s injury means that PSG are likely to deploy Mauro Icardi furthest forward complimented by Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria out wide with Marco Verratti in a traditional number ten role.
Gerard Pique, Coutinho, Sergi Roberto and Ansu Fati are the notable absentees in the Barcelona side. Samuel Umtiti is likely to start if Ronald Araújo is not passed fit.
Coach views
Mauricio Pochettino, PSG coach: “The most important thing in football is to be optimistic and to fill others with optimism. We have to play a game in which we will need to be fully focused, even more so than in Barcelona. We will have to attack and to win the game. This is how we prepared this game and what we have said amongst ourselves.”
Ronald Koeman, Barcelona coach: “There’s always life in a game. It depends how we start the match, the energy that we put into it in order to make their lives difficult. It all depends on how efficient we can be. They showed that in the first leg, but we’re a side who always make chances. If we’re at our most efficient, nothing is impossible.”
