UCL Round of 16 – Revisiting Liverpool’s Last Six Matches

Liverpool are set to return to European action as they face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

The Reds cruised through the league phase, topping the group with an impressive record, and now face a stern test against the in-form French champions.

PSG, under the guidance of Luis Enrique, are riding a wave of momentum. They demolished Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the playoff round. Unbeaten in all competitions since November, PSG are clear at the top of their domestic league, much like Liverpool in the Premier League.

The winner of this tie will face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the quarter-finals, raising the possibility of an all-English clash in the next round.

Before the Reds lock horns with PSG, let’s take a look back at their six most recent UCL Round of 16 matches.

2017/18 – Liverpool 5-0 Porto

Liverpool’s first Champions League campaign under Jürgen Klopp was a memorable one. After topping their group, the Reds faced Porto in the last-16 and delivered a stunning first-leg performance.

Sadio Mané’s hat-trick, along with goals from Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, sealed a 5-0 victory. The second leg ended in a goalless draw, but Liverpool had already done enough to advance.

2018/19 – Liverpool 3-1 Bayern Munich

One of Klopp’s most iconic European nights came against Bayern Munich. After a 0-0 draw at Anfield, Liverpool traveled to the Allianz Arena and produced a masterclass. Sadio Mané’s brilliant finish, Virgil van Dijk’s towering header, and a late goal from Mané secured a 3-1 victory, sending the Reds through in style.

2019/20 – Liverpool 2-4 Atletico Madrid

This tie remains one of Liverpool’s most painful European exits. After losing 1-0 in Madrid, the Reds fought back at Anfield with a Georginio Wijnaldum header to force extra time. However, Marcos Llorente’s brace and a late goal from Álvaro Morata crushed Liverpool’s hopes, ending their title defense heartbreakingly.

2020/21 – Liverpool 4-0 RB Leipzig

Amid a challenging domestic season, Liverpool found comfort in Europe. Facing RB Leipzig in a neutral venue due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Reds were clinical. Salah and Mané scored in both legs, securing a comfortable 4-0 aggregate win and keeping their European dreams alive.

2021/22 – Liverpool 2-1 Inter Milan

Liverpool faced Italian champions Inter Milan in a tightly contested tie. A 2-0 first-leg victory in Milan, courtesy of goals from Firmino and Salah, gave the Reds a commanding lead. Inter fought back in the second leg with a Lautaro Martínez strike, but Liverpool held firm to advance 2-1 on aggregate.

2022/23 – Liverpool 2-6 Real Madrid

Liverpool’s most recent last-16 exit came at the hands of Real Madrid. A promising start at Anfield, with goals from Darwin Núñez and Salah, quickly turned sour. Vinícius Júnior and Karim Benzema tore the Reds apart with a 5-2 first-leg defeat, leaving Liverpool with too much to do. A 1-0 loss in the return leg sealed a 6-2 aggregate defeat.

What’s Next Against PSG?

As Arne Slot’s men prepare to face PSG, they’ll need to channel their past European heroics. The French champions are in red-hot form, but the Reds have proven time and again that they can rise to the occasion in the Champions League. With Mohamed Salah in sensational form and a squad brimming with experience, Liverpool will be confident of causing an upset.

Wednesday’s clash promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of Europe’s elite. Will Liverpool add another memorable chapter to their Champions League story, or will PSG’s relentless attack prove too much to handle?