Liverpool are facing a major fitness concern ahead of their Champions League last-16 first-leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain, with Cody Gakpo missing Tuesday’s open training session.
The Reds are preparing for a highly anticipated showdown with PSG, who struggled in the league phase and ended up as the opponent for Liverpool’s first-placed finish.
Manager Arne Slot knows his side will need to be at full strength to navigate through one of the tournament favorites, but Gakpo’s potential absence could be a huge setback.
The Dutch forward has been in red-hot form, scoring 16 goals in 38 games this season. He recently returned from a knock sustained in the Merseyside derby, which forced him to miss two games in February.
Luis Enrique Aware of Liverpool’s Attacking Threat
While Gakpo’s absence would be a blow for Liverpool, PSG boss Luis Enrique sees it as a blessing, highlighting the Reds’ attacking firepower:
“It will be an intense game. On paper, it is one of the best matches you can watch in Europe. They’re one of the best teams when it comes to counter-attacks.”
“We must be careful not to suffer from their transitions. They have three fighter jets in attack – it’s not easy to stop them if we don’t impose our game on them.”
Even if Gakpo is unavailable, Liverpool still have several attacking options, with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, and Federico Chiesa all available for selection.
Liverpool’s Full Squad to Face PSG
Goalkeepers:
- Alisson
- Caoimhin Kelleher
- Vitezslav Jaros
- Harvey Davies
Defenders:
- Virgil van Dijk
- Ibrahima Konate
- Kostas Tsimikas
- Andy Robertson
- Trent Alexander-Arnold
- Jarell Quansah
Midfielders:
- Wataru Endo
- Dominik Szoboszlai
- Alexis Mac Allister
- Curtis Jones
- Ryan Gravenberch
- Harvey Elliott
- James McConnell
- Trey Nyoni
Forwards:
- Luis Diaz
- Darwin Nunez
- Mohamed Salah
- Cody Gakpo
- Federico Chiesa
- Diogo Jota
Despite missing open training, Gakpo remains in the 24-player squad traveling to Paris, leaving a glimmer of hope for his potential availability in this crucial fixture.
