PSG are probably the best team Liverpool have played this season: Andy Robertson

LIVERPOOL – Fullback Andy Robertson warned that despite Liverpool holding a 1-0 lead and playing at home, they must improve markedly for their March 11 Champions League last-16, second-leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain, whom he said are “probably the best (team) we have played this season”.

The Ligue 1 side thoroughly outplayed the Reds in the first leg at the Parc des Princes on March 5, but were denied repeatedly by goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s brilliance before being sucker punched by a Harvey Elliott goal three minutes from time. It ended PSG’s run of 10 straight wins in all competitions.

Luis Enrique’s men had 28 attempts on goal to Liverpool’s two and hogged 65 per cent of possession, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitting they were very fortunate to secure a favourable result.

Said Robertson: “It’s a game we’re not overly used to in terms of how big the difference in possession was, how many shots they had and how many shots we had...

“It’s going to be a tough game. They showed how good they can be, an exceptional team – probably the best we have played this season.

“We have got the lead, which is important, but we can obviously play better than we did on Wednesday, that’s clear and we will have to play better as we can’t rely on Alisson playing the game of his life every game.”

The Scot added that his team will need to show more initiative and be better without the ball.

Fellow defender Virgil van Dijk said PSG are a world-class team and highlighted their work rate, something French league leaders Les Parisiens have not been renowned for, particularly during previous star-studded iterations which featured the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Said the Reds captain: “I think they are an outstanding team, a fantastic team, you can see the work rate they put in. We obviously had a debrief after the game about it and you could see them, if they lost the ball, pressing together and running together.

“It’s a big credit to the manager to put that work in and he made, in my eyes, a world-class team out of it.”

Despite the praise for PSG, Liverpool are likely to be a different proposition at Anfield, where they have won all four of their previous European games this season.

In fact, they have lost just one game at home in all competitions this term, against Nottingham Forest in September – which remains their sole English Premier League defeat all campaign.

They also have a good record of progressing to the next round after winning the first leg, a run of 14 straight Champions League knockout matches since Bayer Leverkusen eliminated the Reds in the quarter-finals in 2001-02.

However, PSG’s performance in the first leg has given their players confidence they can turn around the 1-0 deficit in Merseyside.

“We had so many opportunities to score in the first game and were the better team. It was disappointing to lose, but we have to prepare ourselves properly for the second game,” said Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was part of the Napoli team who beat the Reds 4-1 in the Champions League group stage in Naples in 2022.

“Liverpool are a good team and Anfield is a good ground for them. But we can take a lot of confidence from the way we played and, if we are the same in the second game, then I think we will score the goals we need.”

His teammate and France defender Lucas Hernandez agreed, saying: “We are very confident. We played a good match in the first leg. We are aware of that. We played another good game (on March 8, a 4-1 win at Rennes). Everyone is confident and looking forward to this match, hoping to qualify, of course...

“Honestly, we are in a very good dynamic and we hope to do what’s necessary at Anfield.”

The winners of the clash will face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the quarter-finals. Villa are leading 3-1 ahead of the second leg at home on March 12.