04/14/26 01:10:00
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04/14 13:08 CDT Liverpool starts Alexander Isak against PSG in Champions
League, Mohamed Salah on bench
Liverpool starts Alexander Isak against PSG in Champions League, Mohamed Salah
on bench
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) --- Alexander Isak was handed his first Liverpool start
since December as the Merseyside club aimed for another famous Champions League
comeback Tuesday against Paris Saint-Germain.
But there was no place in Arne Slot's starting lineup for Mohamed Salah.
Six-time European champion Liverpool trails 2-0 after the first leg of the
quarterfinal in Paris. But it is hoping for the type of Anfield night that saw
it rout Barcelona 4-0 in the semifinals in 2019 to overturn a 3-0 first-leg
loss.
"There is a belief that we can do special things ... but we need to be very,
very, very special," coach Slot said ahead of the match. "We know we need an
exceptional performance to go through to the next round."
Isak sustained a broken ankle and fibula in December and only made his comeback
as a substitute against PSG last week.
The British record $170 million signing was named at the point of Liverpool's
attack with Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz also included.
Salah, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, was a substitute.
Defending champion PSG dominated the first leg but missed opportunities to run
up a more commanding lead.
PSG coach Luis Enrique warned his team about the potential to slip up with the
semifinals within touching distance.
"You need to be really careful, there could be pitfalls and it could be a
trap," he said. "Everyone says, ?You won (the first leg) easily and you were
much better than (the) opposition.' It might be the case but things can change
so quickly in a football match."
Barcelona must also overturn a 2-0 first-leg loss to Atletico Madrid if it is
to advance to the semifinals.
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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