Arne Slot may be feeling the pressure over four Liverpool FC players ahead of Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg in France, the Reds face a daunting task, with Opta giving them just a slim chance of reaching the semi-finals. Former player Steve Nicol is among those who doubt Liverpool can produce a famous comeback. Even if they do, progression could come at a cost, potentially leaving the squad weakened for a semi-final clash with either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
A major concern is the risk of suspensions. According to WhoScored, five Liverpool players—Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Conor Bradley—have already picked up two yellow cards in this season’s competition. Bradley will miss the match as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury, while Jones could still be involved despite a recent groin concern.
Under UEFA rules, any player who accumulates three yellow cards in the competition receives a one-match ban, though all bookings are wiped after the quarter-finals. This means that if Liverpool progress and any of Van Dijk, Gravenberch, Mac Allister or Jones are booked, they would miss the first leg of the semi-finals. However, if the Reds are eliminated, those suspensions would not carry over into next season.
While the risk is real, it may be one Liverpool are willing to take. Turning around a two-goal deficit against PSG would be a remarkable achievement, even if it leads to key absences in the next round. There’s even a scenario where all three midfielders—Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Jones—could be ruled out of a semi-final opener if they are booked.
For now, though, missing players later might feel like a small price to pay if Liverpool can produce another unforgettable European comeback and keep their hopes of silverware alive this season.
