UCL Preview: Liverpool face PSG in heavyweight clash; Coutinho to make UCL debut for Barca

Champions League is finally back! Welcome to our All Football Champions League Preview! 

Liverpool face PSG in a heavyweight clash at Anfield as Barcelona start their new European journey with Coutinho, with Tottenham, Inter, Atletico & Dortmund all in action.

Liverpool vs Paris Saint Germain

Kick off: 20:00 (CET)

Date: Tue, 18-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Liverpool focus

Captain Jordan Henderson was on the bench against Tottenham at the weekend but will be considered by Jurgen Klopp here, in what will be Liverpool's only change.

Roberto Firmino suffered a nasty eye injury against Spurs and remains a doubt. With Dominic Solanke and Divock Origi doubts after picking up injuries on duty with the U23s, Daniel Sturridge is favourite to start if Firmino is not fit enough.

Simon Mignolet was back on the bench for Liverpool on Saturday after suffering an injury during the international break.

PSG focus

Gianluigi Buffon and Marco Verratti are both suspended for Paris Saint-Germain due to bans carrying over from last season.

Alphonse Areola will start in goal as a result of Buffon's absence, while Marquinhos may be required in midfield to cover for Verratti.

Fitness concerns and suspension ruled Neymar and Kylian Mbappe out against Saint-Etienne on Friday but both will start here, potentially in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Stats

Liverpool have started a Premier League season with five straight wins for the first time in their history.

Paris Saint-Germain also have a 100 per cent record this season but are yet to hit top gear under Thomas Tuchel.

PSG have scored in each of their last 16 Champions League games but have lost their last two away matches in the competition.

This is the game of the round and should be thoroughly entertaining, between two sides that love to attack.

Prediction

Liverpool 3-1 PSG

Inter vs Tottenham Hotspur

Kick off: 17:55 (CET)

Date: Tue, 18-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Inter focus

Dalbert, Roberto Gagliardini and Joao Mario have all been left out of Inter's Champions League squad and are ineligible.

Luciano Spalletti faces a minor injury concern at right-back, with Sime Vrsaljko out and Danilo D'Ambrosio a doubt for the welcome of Tottenham, which may see Milan Skriniar deputise here and Miranda start alongside Stefan De Vrij at the heart of the defence.

Lautaro Martinez is a doubt and will be assessed ahead of kick off.

Tottenham Hotspur focus

Hugo Lloris and Dele Alli are both ruled out through injury for Tottenham for their trip to San Siro.

Juan Foyth, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Vincent Janssen have been left out of Spurs' Champions League squad for the group stages, so are ineligible here.

Moussa Sissoko misses out here, while Victor Wanyama, Ben Davies and Erik Lamela may start in place of Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Harry Winks from the side that started the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier have both been left out of the travelling squad, which should see Davinson Sanchez and Serge Aurier start.

Stats

After a hefty level of investment, Inter have started the season slowly, earning just four of 12 available points. They're yet to win at San Siro this campaign and have failed to win their last four home games.

Tottenham are stuttering after back-to-back league defeats following a run of three successive victories to kick off the season and are yet to wholly convince this term. The Premier League side have lost their only two meetings with Inter at San Siro, conceding four goals in each of those two games.

Neither team will want to lose here, so we could see a cagey affair that may end in a low scoring draw.

Prediction

Inter 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Barcelona vs PSV Eindhoven

Kick off: 17:55 (CET)

Date: Tue, 18-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Barcelona focus

Few surprises are expected from Barcelona when they host PSV in their first Champions League game of the season.

Philippe Coutinho will make his Champions League debut for Barcelona this week.

PSV Eindhoven focus

PSV will be without Ryan Thomas, Dante Rigo and Maximiliano Romero for Tuesday's trip to Camp Nou. The Dutch giants will field their strongest side.

Stats

Barcelona have won their Champions League group in each of the past 11 seasons. They have started the season with a 100 per cent record.

PSV have won seven games in a row and have scored 13 goals in their last two outings.

The Dutch giants, however, haven't won away in the Champions League proper since November 2007, losing seven of their subsequent 10 matches.

Barcelona are unbeaten in 26 Champions League home matches and are expected to continue that streak on Tuesday.

Prediction

Barcelona 3-0 PSV

Monaco vs Atletico Madrid

Kick off: 20:00 (CET)

Date: Tue, 18-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Monaco focus

Monaco have injury problems ahead of Tuesday's encounter with Atletico Madrid, notably still missing summer signing Aleksandr Golovin

Andrea Raggi was fit to return to the bench at the weekend and provides another option for Monaco in midweek.

Danijel Subasic hasn't featured for Monaco this season, which means Diego Benaglio should keep his place in goal.

Radamel Falcao will return to the starting XI after being given the weekend off to be 100 per cent against his former club.

With Rony Lopes expected to miss out, summer signing Nacer Chadli will continue on the left flank for the French side.

Leonardo Jardim has a number of options to play on the opposite flank but no stand out performer in that position as of yet.

Atletico Madrid focus

Stefan Savic missed Atletico Madrid 1-1 draw with Eibar at the weekend through suspension but is free to feature here.

Vitolo and Santiago Arias are ruled out for the away side, while Lucas Hernandez and Nikola Kalinic are doubts.

Juanfran returned to the starting XI on Saturday and will continue at right-back here.

Stats

Monaco have made a poor start to the season. The French side have only won one of their last six matches in all competitions.

Atletico Madrid have also underperformed this season. The Spanish side have only kept one clean sheet in five games, which is not like them.

Monaco are without a win in eight European games, but have won their last three matches against La Liga opposition.

Atletico, however, have lost only one of their 13 fixtures against Ligue 1 sides and are unbeaten in their last five such fixtures (W3, D2).

Prediction

Monaco 0-1 Atletico Madrid

Club Bruges vs Borussia Dortmund

Kick off: 20:00 (CET)

Date: Tue, 18-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Club Bruges focus

Clinton Mata is sidelined for the home side, while midfielder Marvelous Nakamba is a doubt and will be assessed ahead of kick off.

Matej Mitrovic was an unusued sub in Friday's win over Lokeren, but should come into the side in a three-man defence, while Emmanuel Dennis may also come into the starting XI on the right.

Borussia Dortmund focus

Omer Toprak misses out for Borussia Dortmund with a thigh problem.

Raphael Guerreiro is a doubt for the German side, which could see Marcel Schmelzer start at left-back for the visitors once more.

Paco Alcacer came off the bench to net on his debut at the weekend, but may start from the bench, with Maximilian Philipp set to start for Dortmund again.

Stats

Club Bruges have made a flying start to the Jupiler League season, picking up 19 of 21 points available this campaign. After a poor end to the campaign, the Belgian outfit have impressed, particularly on home turf, where they have won all four league matches this season.

Borussia Dortmund, too, are unbeaten in the league this season after a 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend. They'll look to churn out a better display than they did in the 0-0 draw at Hannover last month as they look to make a winning start to their Champions League campaign.

Indeed, Dortmund could inflict Club Bruges' first home defeat of the campaign.

Prediction

Club Bruges 1-2 Borussia Dortmund