Liverpool vs PSG Best Bets – Wednesday, March 5, 2025

The UEFA Champions League knockout rounds deliver a thrilling heavyweight showdown as Paris Saint-Germain welcome Liverpool to Parc des Princes for the first leg of their Round of 16 tie on Wednesday. Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, the French champions aim to capitalize on home advantage and showcase their European ambitions, while Arne Slot’s high-flying Reds look to extend their dominant form across all competitions.

Head-to-Head and Historical Trends

Liverpool’s last visit to Parc des Princes in 2018 ended in a 2-1 defeat, but they claimed a 3-2 victory at Anfield earlier that season. Historically, the Reds have struggled on French soil, failing to win in their last five European away games against Ligue 1 opposition since defeating Olympique Marseille in 2008.

Paris Saint-Germain: Chasing European Glory

Paris Saint-Germain enter this contest in formidable form, boasting 10 consecutive victories across all competitions. Their latest triumph, a 4-1 win over Lille, showcased their attacking prowess and squad depth. The return of Vitinha, Willian Pacho, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to the starting XI is expected to further strengthen their lineup. A historic milestone awaits club captain Marquinhos, who is set to make his 100th Champions League start, becoming the first player to achieve this exclusively with a French club.

Despite PSG’s domestic supremacy – leading Ligue 1 by a commanding 13 points – the Champions League Round of 16 has often been their stumbling block, with eliminations at this stage in five of the last eight seasons. However, a convincing 10-0 aggregate demolition of Brest in the playoff round signaled their intent to finally break past their past European shortcomings.

Liverpool: European Pedigree and Tactical Excellence

Liverpool, a six-time Champions League winner, topped the newly formatted league-phase table with commanding performances. The Reds have historically thrived in Europe’s elite competition, and despite a three-match losing streak in Champions League knockout ties – all against Real Madrid – they remain a formidable force.

Injury concerns persist, with Tyler Morton, Conor Bradley, and Joe Gomez all ruled out, while Dutch forward Cody Gakpo remains a doubt. However, Mohamed Salah remains a talismanic figure, already holding the record for most Champions League knockout stage goal contributions by an African player.

Liverpool’s domestic campaign has been equally impressive, sitting atop the Premier League with a 13-point cushion. They remain unbeaten in away league matches this season, but their form on the road in other competitions has been less convincing, with only three wins in their last nine away games across all tournaments.

Possible Starting Lineups of Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool

• Paris Saint-Germain: Gianluigi Donnarumma – Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes – Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Joao Neves – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola. (4-3-3) 
• Liverpool: Alisson Becker – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson – Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister – Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Díaz – Diogo Jota. (4-2-3-1)

Spooky Express Betting Prediction 

This high-stakes clash presents intriguing betting opportunities. Paris Saint-Germain are slight favorites at +135 to secure a first-leg victory at home, while Liverpool are priced at +175 to claim a crucial away win. A draw, which could set up a thrilling return leg at Anfield, is valued at +270.

For bettors seeking a ‘safer’ option, the Draw No Bet line on Liverpool at +100 at Everygame is an appealing selection, as a draw would result in a refunded wager. Additionally, given Mohamed Salah’s prolific Champions League record, backing him to score at anytime at +165 provides strong value.

With both sides boasting immense attacking firepower and defensive vulnerabilities, an entertaining, high-scoring encounter could be on the cards. Expect PSG to control possession, but Liverpool’s counterattacking threat and European pedigree make them a dangerous opponent. A narrow win for PSG or a high-scoring draw appears to be the most likely outcomes in this crucial first-leg showdown.

Spooky Express Free Play: Liverpool Draw No Bet +100 at EveryGame for 6/10 Units

Spooky Express Free Play 2: Mohamed Salah – Anytime Goalscorer +165 at EveryGame for 4/10 Units