Luis Enrique makes telling comment on Liverpool 'level' after first leg dominance

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PSG boss Luis Enrique warned about Liverpool's potential strength ahead of their second-leg Champions League quarterfinal clash on Tuesday at Anfield despite his team's 2-0 advantage

PSG coach Luis Enrique gave a very emotive press conference before his side's second leg fixture against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool has a lot of work to do in the second leg against a rampant Paris Saint-Germain side that won the first leg of the pair's quarterfinal Champions League tie 2-0.

The scoreline flattered the Reds — the Parisians had over 70% possession, close to 3 xG, and more than tripled the amount of shots Liverpool had.

Still, PSG coach Luis Enrique admitted that he's wary of Liverpool's "level" ahead of the second-round matchup at Anfield on Tuesday, also calling the fixture a "trap game." Last year, the two sides went to extra time at the Merseyside-based ground in the Champions League Round of 16 (PSG advanced on penalties).

"It was only the first game," the reigning Champions League-winning coach said in his Monday press conference. "We have to play the second game."

"When you play in this competition and play away, it's always tough. And you're playing a team at Liverpool's level as well, okay, they are trailing, but it's still going to be difficult for us. We know there will be times when we experience difficulties playing against Liverpool."

Luis Enrique and Arne Slot embrace during the first leg in Paris(Image: Getty Images)

The Reds did manage a 2-0 win in between the legs against Fulham, with Rio Ngumoha and Mohamed Salah both scoring rockets to give Liverpool the win.

Coach Arne Slot's team was hardly dominant — they mustered only 53% possession at home and were outshot 18-19 despite featuring Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Jermie Frimpong in the back line.

Luis Enrique's PSG side didn't play over the weekend(Image: Getty Images)

PSG — top of Ligue 1 — saw its fixture against second-place side Lens canceled.

"It's going to be difficult," Enrique said of the second leg. "If you analyze the matches we played last year, the first match was similar in the conditions and the situations, if not the result."

He then reminisced on the cagey second leg at Anfield last year. Ousmane Dembele scored an early goal to level the tie at one apiece, and then both sides dug in as the game approached extra time.

"In the second leg, it was so different. It's difficult to have control when they press all the time.," Enrique continued. "They need to score goals, which means they have to take risks. There's going to be a lot of space. We love to manage the ball, but we can also attack through space, and we love counter-attacks too. It's one of the best things we have,

The quarterfinal winner will face the winner of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the semifinals. Bayern won the first leg 2-1 — former Reds winger Luis Diaz opened the scoring for the German side.