PSG vs. Liverpool: The Biggest Individual Battles to Watch For | OneFootball

Two of the most in-form sides in world football will go head-to-head on Wednesday as Paris Saint-Germain hosts Liverpool FC in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Liverpool sits 13 points clear in first place in the Premier League, whilst they also finished with the best record out of all the 36 teams that competed in the UEFA Champions League league phase with 21 points from a possible 24. And in two weeks—five days after the second leg in Anfield—they’ll have a chance to win their first trophy of the Arne Slot era as they take on Newcastle in the EFL Cup Final.

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As for Paris Saint-Germain, they are clicking on all cylinders under Luis Enrique and sit 13 points clear atop the Ligue 1 table, whilst they will also take on Ligue 2 side USL Dunkerque in the Coupe de France semifinal—if they win, they’ll face either fourth-tier Cannes or Reims, who are hovering above the Ligue 1 relegation zone after losing their last four league fixtures.

PSG have won each of their last 10 matches, whilst they’ve also subjected Brest to a humiliating 10-0 aggregate victory in the previous round. But if they are to get past Liverpool and come away with a first-leg victory, they’ll need a 10/10 performance from all of their players. Today, we’re taking a look at four of the biggest individual battles to watch at the Parc des Princes.

Alexis Mac Allister vs. João Neves

Alex Pantling/Getty Images; Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

João Neves has emerged as a vital cog in PSG’s midfield since joining from Benfica in the summer of 2024, providing a constant source of creativity—only Lyon’s Rayan Cherki (9) has registered more assists in Ligue 1 than him (8)—consistently looking to receive under pressure, orchestrate play, and carve out chances. He’s also an active contributor out of possession, constantly leading the press and also looking undaunted in aerial duels despite his short frame. However, he might just meet his match in Alexis Mac Allister.

Mac Allister is a manager’s dream—he’s someone who can glide out of pressure and wreak havoc in between the lines, who has the vision and execution to break the lines with a killer through ball, and who has a penchant for making clandestine runs into the edge of the box and getting on the end of a cutback or a cross, having scored against Everton and Newcastle last month.

“There are many footballers who attack well, many who defend well, but there aren’t many like Alexis who attack and defend well,” stated his father, Carlos Mac Allister.

In order to limit Mac Allister’s creative influence, they’ll need Neves to remain vigilant and committed toward marking the Argentine out of the game. Since moving to Paris, he’s earned plenty of praise as one of Europe’s top chance creators, but on Wednesday, he’ll likely need to showcase the other side of his game even more so and show a willingness to do the dirty work, quickly react to danger, and help PSG come out on top in loose balls and 50-50s.

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