Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain: a brief history

The Reds faced the Ligue 1 champions in Friday's draw, which also revealed that the tie winners would face either Club Brugge or Aston Villa.

They first met in April 1997 in a two-legged semi-final of the European Cup Winners' Cup

of that season.

By defending that trophy, PSG took a big step towards another final by securing a 3-0 home win in the first leg. Liverpool manager Roy Evans lamented: “It was probably the worst we have played all season.”

Leonardo had opened the scoring after 12 minutes at the Parc des Princes and Benoit Cauet doubled the hosts' lead two minutes before the break.

Evans' side steadied themselves a little but allowed Jerome Leroy to score a third goal in the 84th minute, forcing them to perform something of a miracle at Anfield.

You have to admit that they were close.

Robbie Fowler 's goal just 11 minutes into the second leg was just what the Reds needed, but a second goal to pile on the pressure proved elusive.

It eventually came through captain Mark Wright with 79 points on the clock, though the aggregate draw ended up being a step too far. “I couldn’t have asked for more effort or passion,” Evans said. “Tonight we got our pride back.”

It would be more than two decades before they met competitively again.

This time, it was two Champions League group stage games, the first of which saw Thomas Tuchel's PSG return to Merseyside in September 2018.

There was a classic: a Daniel Sturridge header and a James Milner penalty in quick succession in the Kop final put Liverpool two points ahead.

Thomas Meunier halved the visitors' deficit just before the break and Kylian Mbappe wrapped up the scoring late on, only for substitute Roberto Firmino to grab the winner in stoppage time.

It was a similar story, albeit in reverse, when the rivalries resumed in the French capital. Juan Bernat and Neymar gave the home side a two-goal lead and the visitors were back in the game before the break. Milner again converted a shot

punctual. Without

However, there was no drama in the second half this time as PSG ran out 2-1 winners. Ultimately, it mattered little as Jürgen Klopp 's Reds lifted the game

the trophy that season.

Elsewhere, three players moved to Liverpool from PSG, with Nicolas Anelka being the first when he went on loan to Anfield at the end of 2001.

Young striker David Ngog made that journey permanently in the summer of 2008, as did defender Mamadou Sakho five years later.

Mohamed Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum have also represented both clubs, with the latter joining PSG after his contract with Liverpool expired in 2021.