By Joel Lefevre

Liverpool will try to maintain their position in the top eight of the League Phase when they return to Champions League action on Wednesday, hosting PSV at Anfield.

 A 1-0 win over Real Madrid has kept the Reds sitting eighth in the table, with the Dutch side 10 places below them following a 1-1 draw with Olympiacos the last time out.

Match Preview

Retaining their Premier League title feels like a long shot at this point for the Reds, but going on a Champions League run is still a distinct possibility for this group.

Arne Slot boasts a 100% home record with this side at home in the League Phase, with this club dropping points in only one Champions League group outing in Liverpool this decade, losing 2-0 to Atalanta in November 2020.

Slot has been under massive pressure for his side’s struggles and to add, the former Feyenoord boss hasn’t fared well against the club from Eindhoven (PSV), winning just one of his last eight matches against them across all competitions. Domestically, we have seen the reigning Premier League champions really get exposed defensively, but at this tournament, they have been the aggressors, boasting the second-most direct attacks thus far (12), with only Club Brugge having more.

Liverpool is one goal away from reaching the 500 mark in this competition, while Mohamed Salah is two goals shy of 50, which, if achieved, would make him the first African player to get to the half-century mark in the Champions League. The Reds are undefeated in their previous nine matches against Dutch sides in UEFA competitions, winning all three home games against PSV by a combined score of 6-1.

The thrill of a lopsided victory for the Eindhoven side was short-lived, as they failed to impress away from home once again on matchday four. That has been a recurring theme for Peter Bosz’s team, who are winless away from home in the League Phase this season, with this club winning just one of their last 14 European away matches against English opposition.

PSV tend to come to life in the dying stages of matches, scoring four times from the 86th minute onwards in the competition this season, the most among teams remaining in the League Phase. One of the constants with them is their ability to score and avoid defeat, netting in 16 of their last 17 Champions League group outings, while going pointless on only three of those occasions.

Ricardo Pepi will be a player to watch for them on Wednesday, with the American international directly involved in five goals in his last four Champions League appearances, including a goal and an assist against the Reds in January, helping PSV to a 3-2 triumph. Boeren have not lost a competitive away match this season, but on Wednesday, they will be seeking just their second away win in the Champions League group phase this year.

Credits - @Liverpool

Team News

Florian Wirtz, who, along with Dominik Szoboszlai and former PSV player Cody Gakpo, are the only player to create 5+ big chances in this competition, is doubtful on Wednesday with a muscular issue. Jeremie Frimpong is unlikely to feature due to a hamstring strain, while Conor Bradley is questionable because of a muscular problem; he’s in danger of suspension should he play and receive a caution.

Alexis Mac Allister had the only Liverpool strike against Real Madrid, while Giorgi Mamardashvili made two stops for a clean sheet, but could lose his place between the sticks to Alisson. On the PSV side, Alassane Pléa is out due to cartilage damage, as is Ruben van Bommel, who is dealing with a knee injury, while Ismael Saibari is a yellow card away from suspension.

From matchday three to four, there was just one change to their starting 11 with Sergino Dest slotting in at right back against the Greeks in place of Ryan Flamingo.

Ricardo Pepi had the equaliser for them in second-half stoppage time of that clash, his second of the tournament.

Team Line - Ups