Liverpool vs PSG Preview: Ngumoha to Start & Erasing a 2-0 Deficit

Liverpool will have to make some tough choices for lineup selection in the second leg of their Champions League tie with PSG. Not only do they have to overturn a 2-0 deficit, but PSG had extra days' rest while the Reds scored an impressive victory vs. Fulham on the weekend. That means Liverpool will have to get creative with the Starting XI, take advantage of the Anfield magic, and reverse a disturbing trend of results of being down two goals.

Avoid Heavy Legs

This is easier said than done because PSG have extra rest, but Domonik Szoboszlai is not making any excuses.

“Of course, it’s different when they rest between the two games, it gives them two days more to recover, for analysing the game, getting ready for the game. After the PSG game, we focused on Fulham and played two days ago, and now it is Paris again. Some played in Paris and Fulham long, so that makes a difference.  “I am not here to say Premier League should help us with days off in CL, it's not the case. We have to deal with it, and we are professional enough to deal with it. That's our job.”

Should Ngumoha Start?

That’s just one of the questions surrounding the Starting XI that Arne Slot will have to answer, and he seems to be leaning toward a yes.

“I think we have to find the perfect balance between being offensive. But to be offensive, you need to have the ball and to get the ball back,” Slot said. “You're now mentioning two full-backs, but against all these other players, you have to do so many things well before your attackers can attack. So, that's why the history of this club and at other clubs you've seen players that are very good offensively but are also able to do the defensive job, because the only way to score is if you have the ball…Yeah, I think he (Ngumoha) can (start). First of all, because of his personality. He doesn't get distracted that soon. I think everyone who knows his history a bit more, there's a lot of expectation around him for many years already and he's always been able to focus on football, to become better, to become stronger, to become ready at 16 years of age to score your first goals, 17 years of age and already had multiple starts for the first team of Liverpool. That's one thing.”

It’s Not Going To Be Easy

Slot also mentioned in his presser that the comeback was going to be challenging, but not impossible. Stats back up just how difficult the task is. When facing a 2-0 deficit going into the second leg of a Champions League tie, the Reds have advanced just 3 times out of 13 chances. The last was that famous win vs. Barcelona in 2019. Liverpool have also lost four times in seven matches vs. PSG. Of those wins, only one has been by multiple goals, and that was on April 24th 1997.  

Predicted Starting XI

Slot is going to have to take some risk here. I say you need Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah, and Ngumoha on the pitch at the same time. So I would start Ngumoha at Right Wing, put Salah up top in a more attacking position, and have Ekitike lurking in behind. You can see the rest of the projected lineup here.

Have Your Say

Would you take a chance with this potential experimental lineup? Why or why not? Also, given Liverpool’s history with PSG,  do you feel confident the Reds can pull off a miracle? Let us know below.

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