04/08/26 02:02:00
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04/08 14:00 CDT No Salah: Liverpool star on the bench in Champions League
quarterfinal against PSG
No Salah: Liverpool star on the bench in Champions League quarterfinal against
PSG
By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) --- Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was put on the bench for the
Champions League quarterfinal first leg against defending champion Paris
Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Salah has yet to find his best form in his last season at the club, with only
10 goals in 35 games so far. He missed a penalty in the 4-0 loss to Manchester
City in the FA Cup quarterfinals last weekend.
Hugo Ekitik leads the attack with Jeremie Frimpong taking Salah's customary
position on the right wing.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said on the eve of the game that resisting an early
onslaught from PSG was key to Liverpool's chances of keeping the tie alive
heading into the return leg at Anfield next week.
"PSG under (coach) Luis Enrique do not give you a second to have the ball
comfortable on your feet," said. "It's press, press, press every second of the
game."
When the two sides met last season in the round of 16, PSG advanced on
penalties against six-time champion Liverpool following an intense battle. PSG
carried the momentum from that victory all the way to a first Champions League
title.
While Liverpool was arguably the pre-match favorite last year, it's a different
story now. Slot's team is reeling from a crushing FA Cup loss and will be
trophyless unless it wins the Champions League.
PSG has Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembl, midfielder Vitinha and flying
winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in top form. Dembl scored a scintillating volley
against Toulouse in the French league on Friday and seems to be peaking at the
right time.
However, PSG is still missing midfielder Fabin Ruiz with a knee injury and is
without winger Bradley Barcola, who injured his ankle in the last-16 rout of
Chelsea.
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak --- the British-record signing for 125 million
pounds ($170 million) --- has recovered from injury and was on the bench at
Parc des Princes.
Isak had surgery in December on a broken ankle and fibula.
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