When Liverpool face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final this Wednesday night, French lightning will surely have to strike twice for Arne Slot if the Reds are to have any hope of prolonging their European adventure.
The Harvey Elliott-inspired Premier League champions memorably prevailed 1-0 at the Parc des Princes just over a year ago, albeit before Luis Enrique's men silenced Anfield from the penalty spot.
Facing a team donning blue for the third match in a row, Liverpool certainly felt the blues against both Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City, the latter of whom dismantled Slot's side in merciless fashion in the FA Cup.
A two-week reset during the international break evidently did Liverpool little good, as an electrifying Erling Haaland hat-trick and slick Antoine Semenyo chip propelled Man City into the semi-finals with a 4-0 rout of the Reds.
In Virgil van Dijk's own words, the English champions "gave up" at the Etihad; a highly worrying admission for all of the fans, the players, and the under-fire Slot, who is ostensibly losing more supporters by the week but remains immune to the P45 for now.
However, the former Feyenoord boss has now overseen a miserable 15 defeats in all tournaments this term - Liverpool's most in one season since 2014-15 under Brendan Rodgers - and just one win from five, albeit a dominant Champions League win against Galatasaray in the last-16 second leg.
The Reds had been bested 1-0 on the road before that 4-0 revenge job, though, and the visitors have now suffered an unsightly four defeats from their last five away games in all competitions, only beating Championship-bound Wolverhampton Wanderers in that time.
National champion faces national champion in this UCL quarter-final tie, but while Liverpool are about to cede their Premier League crown with a whimper, PSG are - finally - back in firm control of the Ligue 1 title race.
PSG have won each of their last four Champions League quarter-final ties, while Luis Enrique's side have gone seven games unbeaten against English opposition in European competition, winning five of those fixtures comfortably.
Liverpool arrive in Paris having been torn apart 4-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad, with Erling Haaland's hat-trick and Antoine Semenyo's chip leaving Slot's side in absolute tatters.
Slot has now overseen 15 defeats across all competitions this season, Liverpool's worst return since Brendan Rodgers' dismal 2014-15 campaign, and the Reds have lost four of their last five away games.
PSG – Last 10 League & Champions League Games
7 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw, averaging 2.6 goals from 7.3 shots on goal and 18.3 attempts. PSG have had 67.1% possession, 692.7 passes and 5.3 corners per game. On average, their opponents have scored 1.3 goals from 3.5 shots on goal and 8.9 attempts, while being awarded 3.3 corners.
Bradley Barcola is the top scorer with 5 goals, while Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia each have 4. Achraf Hakimi is the top assists maker on 4, with goalie Matvey Safonov managing 4 clean sheets.
Liverpool – Last 10 League & Champions League Games
Liverpool have 5 victories, 4 defeats and 1 draw, averaging 17.7 attempts, 6.2 shots on goal and 1.9 goals. The Merseyside outfit average 55.0% possession, 480.2 passes, 6.7 corners awarded and 4.9 corners against them, while 1.1 goals have been conceded from 3.9 shots on goal and 11.6 attempts.
Hugo Ekitike is the leading scorer with 4 goals, followed by Dominik Szoboszlai on 3, with Mohamed Salah and two others bagging 2. Mohamed Salah is top assists provider with 4, while Alisson Becker has kept 3 clean sheets in the previous 10 games.
