PSG sent Liverpool warning amid Champions League controversy - 'We won't be crying'

Vladimir Smicer has questioned the advantage granted to PSG ahead of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final clash, as French authorities postponed one of the holders' fixtures

Luis Enrique and PSG have been handed a major advantage ahead of facing Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Vladimir Smicer has raised concerns over the preferential treatment afforded to Paris Saint-Germain ahead of Liverpool's Champions League showdown against the defending champions.

However, the European Cup victor remains confident that his former club will draw extra inspiration from the decision by French authorities to postpone PSG's Ligue 1 title decider against Lens, ostensibly to allow them to "prepare in the best conditions" for the tie.

The hotly anticipated game between the top two sides in French soccer had been scheduled for the following Saturday, just three days after Wednesday's quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes and three days before the return fixture at Anfield.

Liverpool faces Fulham in the Premier League that same evening, while PSG was also afforded an additional day's preparation for Wednesday's encounter, having played on Friday against Toulouse as the Reds faced Manchester City in their FA Cup quarter-final the following afternoon.

Smicer, who etched his name into Liverpool folklore with a goal during the 2005 Champions League triumph and is also a former Lens player, firmly believes PSG ought not to have been granted such a concession, reports the Liverpool Echo.

"It's strange, very strange what's happened," he told football betting site BetVictor. "I don't think they should've done that.

"The fixtures are here to be played. I can understand if they had something like flu or something, if the team was suffering from something, if they were missing a lot of players.

PSG's fixture against Lens has been postponed before the second leg against Liverpool(Image: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

"They are not missing a lot of players, they are just trying to gain an advantage and try to have more energy than Liverpool do. I don't think it's right. It's right that Lens are not happy.

"At Liverpool, we won't be crying. We won't be moaning, the players will be aware and will be keen to show PSG that their rest hasn't helped them."

Liverpool finished third in the league phase of the Champions League and dispatched Galatasaray in the round of 16, yet head into the fixture having lost four of the last seven games across all competitions, including a dreadful 4-0 defeat at City at the weekend.

The Reds were knocked out of the Champions League at the round of 16 last season on penalties by PSG, after both clubs had exchanged 1-0 away victories.

Smicer added: "There is plenty of motivation for Liverpool. It's revenge. It's a revenge for last year. We were close to qualifying, and in the end Paris Saint-Germain won the competition, deserved to win because they were really, really good.

"But this season, they are the favorites, they are champions, they were champions last year, and the underdog role can suit us. I still think we've got a good quality.

"I know we lost some games we never should have lost, but that's the way it goes this season, but we've got a chance to beat them. Especially the second game back at Anfield.

"I still think we've got much more quality than we are showing at the moment this season. Liverpool need to be careful. But still, I think if you call us underdogs, Liverpool will like it. We love it."