Virgil van Dijk and two more Liverpool players are at risk of missing PSG second leg if they pick up a booking in the Champions League clash at the Parc des Princes
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Liverpool has three players at risk of suspension in the second leg against PSG in the Champions League — with captain and vital center-back Virgil van Dijk among them.
According to the UEFA rules, players who pick up more than two yellow cards (without being sent off) during the European season collect a one-match ban. That is not reset until the semi-final stage.
In addition to Van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones are on two bookings to date in the Champions League. So too is Conor Bradley, but the Northern Irishman is set to miss the remainder of the campaign through injury.
READ MORE: Luis Enrique makes ‘impossible’ claim before Liverpool tie in Champions LeagueREAD MORE: Alan Shearer says what every Liverpool fan is thinking about Mohamed Salah – ‘Not nice’No Liverpool player has played more often than Van Dijk this season. While he struggled against Erling Haaland last weekend as the Reds were smashed by Manchester City, the Dutchman remains the club’s best defender.
Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez are likely to line up alongside him in Arne Slot’s defense in Paris. Having them all available in the second leg will be vital.
Likewise, Gravenberch is a key lynchpin at the heart of the Liverpool midfield. Jones was arguably the best — albeit of a bad bunch — at the Etihad Stadium.
Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool look on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match.(Image: Getty)
For PSG, left-back Nuno Mendes and one of the star forwards, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, are also on two bookings and therefore at risk of collecting a suspension.
Alexander Isak has been named in the 21-man traveling party for Liverpool. The Swede has been absent for four months with a broken leg and will only be able to play a few minutes off the bench.
Alisson Becker remains absent and won’t feature in the return leg against PSG. Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are all long-term absentees.
Nonetheless, PSG boss Luis Enrique is insistent that his side is not the favorite heading into the huge tie — a year on from eliminating Liverpool en route to becoming European champions.
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“It doesn’t matter who the favorites are, because in this type of match, it’s impossible to have a favorite,” Enrique said in his pre-match press conference.
“I don’t believe we are [favorites]. Last year, everyone said it was Liverpool and we qualified. The first leg last season was a very, very high-level match. I would sign up for the same match but not for the same result.
“We hope to have more of the ball than Liverpool, but we know how difficult it is, because they are a very good team with a very good coach. We are used to playing against English teams, so in that sense it will be no different from last year.”
Liverpool.com says: Losing any of Van Dijk, Jones or Gravenberch would be a major blow. Liverpool needs to ensure the tie is still alive ahead of returning to Anfield — but then it will need as many options available as possible.
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