Eight players could miss PSG vs Liverpool UCL tie as Arne Slot handed boost

Liverpool are in Champions League action against holders Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes tonight – but eight players could miss the game

Alexander Isak has handed Liverpool a huge boost ahead of their Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain. Isak has been named in the Reds’ squad for the game at the Parc des Princes.

The forward returned to first-team training last week after 15 weeks on the sidelines but was left out of the squad for the 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City on Saturday. However, the Sweden international is now in line to return to action for the first time since he broke a bone in his leg when being challenged by Micky van de Ven during his side’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur just before Christmas.

Speaking on the eve of the game, Arne Slot confirmed that while Isak won’t start in Paris, he could feature if required. He said: "He finished close to a week of team training sessions; he can play a part, otherwise I wouldn't take him.

"I didn't take him to the Etihad because we felt he wasn't able to get a performance yet. We think we can get a performance out of him now, but not to start."

However, Liverpool will be without Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic and Giovanni Leoni for the game. Alisson is expected to return before the end of the season, but Bradley, Endo, Bajcetic and Leoni are not expected to return until next season.

"He will not be part of the Paris Saint-Germain games as well,” Slot said last week when asked about Alisson. “He will be out for a bit longer. Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit again."

Meanwhile, PSG are expected to be without Bradley Barcola, Fabian Ruiz and Quentin Ndjantou for the game.

Although the Ligue 1 champions confirmed on Tuesday that Barcola is back in full training and is working his way back to full fitness, it is being reported in the French press that the forward won’t be risked.

But speaking on Tuesday, Luis Enrique said: "If he’s [Barcola] still unwell, he won’t play tomorrow. “He had a partial training session yesterday and a full session today. He’s coming back. We’re finding the best conditions. He’ll tell us when he’s ready. He’s lacking a little confidence.”

On the game, Enrique said: "We're going to try to have the ball more than Liverpool, a very good team with quality players and a very good coach. It'll be difficult.

"In the quarter-finals, it's naturally a special game, because there are just eight teams. When you start to get used to being at this level, it's great as a team.

"It's, of course, positive to be able to show it against Liverpool. What we want is to qualify. We're aware of the difficulty, but we're motivated. We want to enjoy playing at the Parc."