Alan Shearer backs unlikely comeback as PSG warned of 'dangerous' Champions League factor

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Liverpool was thoroughly outplayed by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday but the tie is still alive due to the Parisians' profligate finishing

Alan Shearer gave his verdict on Liverpool's comeback hopes(Image: 2026 Allstar)

Alan Shearer is not ruling Liverpool out of producing a remarkable comeback in its Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Reds were thoroughly outplayed during Wednesday's quarter-final first leg in the French capital, but only lost by two goals, meaning the tie is not totally dead in the water.

PSG travels to Merseyside next Tuesday – and will be well rested after being given the weekend off in Ligue 1 – and Shearer thinks the Anfield factor could see Liverpool pull of a surprise, although he is still backing PSG to progress.

"Last night could have been a lot worse for Liverpool and it should have been really," Shearer told Betfair. "2-0 didn't do PSG’s performance justice. I thought they were outstanding.

"I totally understand why Arne Slot tried to change Liverpool’s system because clearly with the system beforehand they were leaking goals left, right and centre so to try and change and do something different, that's fine. But they got away with it in terms of 2-0.

"It'll be very, very difficult to overturn that scoreline but it's been done before. I was there for one of the greatest comebacks ever and the atmosphere at Anfield when they played Barcelona. It was 3-0 then.

"But it's a very different Liverpool team with a different mindset at this moment in time. They got away with 2-0. It could have been 4-0, 5-0 or 6-0 if PSG had their shooting boots on.

"The big thing is that, because of the way Liverpool are defensively, they're fragile and all over the place. I guess that's why Slot tried to put another body in there to try and sure them up. But I wouldn't say it didn't work because it wasn't any worse than what we've seen with the back four.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored as PSG won 2-0 against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

"The big thing is how on earth are they going to keep them out? Because if they get one goal at Anfield then that's pretty much Liverpool done."

Shearer is tipping Slot to revert to a more familiar formation on home soil, after the back-five formation seen in Paris hindered the attack.

"Liverpool can come back and pull off a shock though, because Anfield is a very dangerous place once it gets rocking," Shearer said. "And it will be rocking because that's what Anfield does, that's what the Liverpool fans do. They'll turn up and it’ll be an unbelievable atmosphere because they'll need and want the team to survive.

"My guess is Slot will change it back to a four. He'll play Mo Salah because they have to score goals. If they get the first goal then yes it could be, but I wouldn't be putting a lot of money on it, put it that way. Not with the way Liverpool are playing and not the way Liverpool are defending.

"You're banking on Anfield. Anfield can be a really dangerous place when that place gets going for the opposition because we know what it's like, it'll be electric and the fans and the players can feed off that.

"If a comeback is going to happen, they're going to have to get that first goal and the crowd is going to have to be huge."