PSG, though not perfect, still has enough strength to 'bully' Liverpool.

In recent seasons, PSG has developed a unique "brand" in the UEFA Champions League: always knowing how to leave English representatives with regret.

When the draw brought them face-to-face with Liverpool in this season's quarter-finals, that familiar feeling surged back, not only for fans but also for experts.

The nightmare of English football.

In reality, PSG's journey beforehand partly reflected their superiority. They easily overcame Chelsea with an aggregate score of 8-2 over two legs, in a matchup where the disparity was evident from speed, control ability to precision in final touches.

Furthermore, PSG remains unbeaten in their last six encounters against English clubs in the Champions League (winning 5, drawing 1), a number sufficient to create significant psychological pressure for any opponent. That stability is not accidental. Under Luis Enrique's guidance, PSG has built an attacking system with depth and high flexibility. They no longer rely on a few isolated stars but operate within a collective structure, where spearheads like Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, or Bradley Barcola can alternately create breakthroughs.

Statistical figures further reinforce that assessment. PSG is the team scoring the most goals in the competition before the quarter-finals, with 34 goals from an expected goals (xG) value of 25.2. They also lead in shots taken (241) and shots on target (90).

These are indicators showing their ability to maintain continuous pressure on the opponent's defense, something not many European clubs can achieve.

It's not surprising that Opta's supercomputer estimates PSG has a 52.5% chance of winning in the first leg, while Liverpool's figure is only 24.5%. This gap reflects the performance correlation and current state of the two teams.

More importantly, PSG seems to have created a certain "fear effect" towards Premier League representatives. The consecutive defeats of English clubs against them recently make each expedition to Parc des Princes a considerable psychological challenge. In the context of Liverpool lacking stability, the mental factor could play a decisive role.

PSG is not perfect but...

However, it would be an omission to view PSG only through a perfect lens. Even in this season, the capital's French club has revealed many issues, particularly in maintaining balance between attack and defense.

One noticeable point is the lack of stability. PSG once conceded three goals at home against Tottenham, though ultimately winning 5-3. Or in domestic arenas, they also had notable slips, including a defeat against Paris FC in the national cup.

In the Champions League, PSG does not always completely dominate. They narrowly overcame AS Monaco with a tight aggregate score of 5-4 in the play-offs, showing that their ability to control the game sometimes isn't truly solid. This partly explains why, despite being reigning champions, PSG is still not rated as the top contender for the title.

Besides professional factors, off-field influences also somewhat affect the team. The schedule adjusted for the Champions League, controversies related to organizational work, or players' personal issues can all create certain disturbances internally.

Nevertheless, the notable point lies in how PSG responds to difficulties. They frequently find solutions in decisive moments, with many late goals against opponents like Barcelona or Marseille. This is a sign of a squad that has matured more in courage. Thus, the quarter-final against Liverpool becomes a comprehensive test. PSG may excel in form, squad, and statistics, but they still need to prove their ability to maintain focus throughout the 90 minutes.

On the flip side, Liverpool does not lack opportunities. The history between the two teams is quite balanced, each winning three matches in their six previous encounters (excluding penalty shootouts). More importantly, the English representative still possesses one of the best defenses in the competition, capable of limiting PSG's attacking power somewhat if playing at their proper level.

PSG still has issues, but when weighed against a Liverpool severely struggling in both play style and confidence, the French representative clearly belongs to a different class.

If they continue maintaining their current excitement and scoring efficiency, Luis Enrique's team could completely "finish off" the fate of the matchup right from the first leg, once again affirming their dominant position against English clubs in the continent's most prestigious competition.