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Three ways Liverpool can produce a Champions League miracle vs PSG at Anfield

Liverpool will be hoping for more European magic on Tuesday if they are to overcome a two goal aggregate versus PSG. How can they do it?
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FBL-EUR-C1-PSG-LIVERPOOL | JULIEN DE ROSA/GettyImages

We are once again in need of some magic on a European night at Anfield.

Liverpool enter the second leg of their Champions League Quarterfinal tie with reigning champions PSG down 2-0 on aggregate following a poor showing in France.

The Reds do come into this match with a small modicum of momentum following their victory over Fulham at the weekend in Premier League action. They scored a few nice goals and most importantly, kept a clean sheet.

However, the test on Tuesday evening is about to ratchet up about 100 levels with the Parisian side coming to town. They eliminated Liverpool from last season's UCL at Anfield, so nothing is promised for this one.

However, if Arne Slot and his charges are to add another miracle to the club's ledger, here are three ways they can get that done.

Harness the Anfield atmosphere

While Liverpool have not made their home a fortress this season like it has been in years gone by, these kinds of nights have a way of pulling out the very best from the stadium, its fans and of course, the players.

Despite all of the angst and unrest following poor showing after poor showing, Anfield is still one of the most daunting challenges for any visiting side, particularly in the latter stages of the Champions League.

Barcelona, Chelsea, Dortmund and Real Madrid are just some of the major clubs to have experienced the power of a truly unleashed Anfield.

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FBL-EUR-C3-LIVERPOOL-DORTMUND | OLI SCARFF/GettyImages

The key is the Reds getting off to a fast start in the match. They need to give the home faithful something to latch onto and believe in. If they can score first, the pressure will fall squarely on the PSG players and it will only heighten from that point on.

The defensive approach we saw in the first leg must be abandoned for a more front-foot mindset that allows our many gifted attackers to flex their creative muscles.

The Anfield crowd are desperate to get behind the club in these moments, and the players on the pitch just need to give them something and the crowd can do the rest.

Take the Shackles off

As mentioned above, Liverpool do not have a lead to protect, and going down 3-0 on aggregate means little when you are already down 2 goals to the best side in Europe.

They need to go out on their shields if this is to be the end of their Champions League run this seson.

We know they have the attacking talent in Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai and Co. It's just a matter of letting them break free of the controlled style Slot loves for a more aggressive approach.

The Reds must fight fire with fire. Losing 1-0, or drawing does nothing. Losing 3-2 when they were going for it from the off? That is much more acceptable from a balanced perspective.

We saw in the win over Fulham that Rio Ngumoha is very eager and able to bring something new to the table so I expect to see him in some capacity as well.

If Salah can turn back the clock one more time and get support from a few of the above names, Liverpool could at least make PSG sweat this one out until the end. If they can snag an early goal, it'll be full game on.

These are the moments you need to be brave, so let's see if Slot can deliver the right message.

Finding the balance in midfield

At this point in the season, the fact we do not have a clearly defined midfield group with cut and dry roles, is a clear indicator of the topsy-turvy nature of this entire campaign.

Last season it was Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai without question each time out. They knew their roles and so did we. Right now, that clarity is still missing too often.

Coming into a match like this, you need the midfield to be humming and biting into tackles as they will set the tone for the rest of the evening. A passionate and driven engine room is the key to bringing the Anfield atmosphere alive and getting the attack moving forward again and again.

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FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-FULHAM | ANDY BUCHANAN/GettyImages

It honestly does not matter who Slot picks to start. They need to be ready to rise to the occasion and play out of their socks from start to finish in this one.

There is a lot of experience throughout this squad of being in high-pressure moments, so they should not be overwhelmed by the situation.

We need to see the midfield passing with purpose, and progressive carries will force the PSG defense to commit one way or another and that will give one of the many Liverpool forward options a window to make their mark on proceedings.

This is the crux to the whole thing. If the Reds midfield can break up counters, start one or two of their own, set the physical and mental tone for the match and get the ball forward early and often, we could see something special happen after 90+ minutes on Tuesday evening.

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