Dembele and Van Dijk go close in first half as Reds hunt historic Champions League comeback

Liverpool welcome PSG to Anfield trailing 2-0 in their Champions League quarter-final tie
Liverpool are charged with producing another Champions League comeback for the ages at Anfield as they look to flip their quarter-final tie with holders Paris Saint-Germain on its head.

Arne Slot ’s side are fortunate to have left the French capital only be trailing by two after being outclassed by PSG last week , with goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia proving the difference in a 2-0 defeat .

The Reds responded with an assured win over Fulham on the weekend, in which 17-year-old sensation Rio Ngumoha scored and starred , leading many to plead for Slot to start the electric winger for tonight’s seismic occasion.

But whether he features or not, Liverpool will need everyone firing against the relentless Parisians, who dumped them out of the competition on their way to the title last year.

After their emphatic FA Cup exit at Manchester City 10 days ago, Liverpool’s hopes of silverware now hinge entirely in Europe so this really is boom or bust for their season.

Follow all the action from Anfield in our live blog below:
'PSG navigated that first half with few alarms'
The half-time thoughts of Richard Jolly, who’s in place at Anfield tonight...

“PSG navigated that first half with few alarms.

And given how wet it is at Anfield, navigated may be an appropriate word.”
The first half comes to an end without anything else of note and both teams head in level at the break.

It’s been an entertaining half at Anfield and it’s a surprise that it’s ended level, as both sides missed huge chances.

Dembele will feel like he should have put PSG ahead, while at the other end Marquinhos did superbly well to prevent a certain goal as van Dijk’s eyes lit up.

It means the tie is still finely poised as we enter the second half, though it’ll be PSG who are the happier of the two sides – and the holders will feel they can punish the Reds in the second half is things stay the same.

Liverpool haven’t really been able to get out of their half as we approach the end of the first 45, with a couple of sloppy passes meaning they’ve given the ball away far too easily.

They’ve arguably got away with a couple of sloppy PSG through balls too.

We have the first booking of the day now as Mac Allister goes flying in low on Vitinha.

Liverpool want a free-kick (and potential red) as Salah goes down in the box but Pacho had done well to shepherd him off the ball.

We’ll have four minutes of added time at Anfield.

Great football from PSG as it’s worked wide to Hakimi in the the area.

He looks to cut it across goal for Dembele but Konate reads it well.

Moments later, another half-chance falls to Dembele in the box but he hits a tame volley into the side-netting.

A strange attempt from Vitinha as he overlaps and receives Dembele’s pass in the box but opts for a sort of lobbed attempt when Kvaratskhelia was also free in the area.

Salah has looked lively since coming on and his next involvement sees him inadvertently win a corner as rain begins to sweep across Anfield.

The set-piece isn’t a great one but it does allow Gravenberch a second attempt at the cross, though the Dutchman’s cutback is to a PSG man.

Ekitike is not the only sub of the half, as PSG are now forced to bring off Nuno Mendes for Lucas Hernández.

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