A Liverpool victory tonight might come with a price, as Arne Slot is concerned about the fitness of five Reds players.

For Liverpool, the objective tonight is straightforward—secure a result against Paris Saint-Germain to guarantee a place in the Champions League quarter-finals, even if it comes with some setbacks.

In the first leg, PSG dominated possession, and it was a relatively uneventful night for referee Davide Massa, who awarded just 10 free kicks and issued one yellow card per team. However, the identity of the Liverpool player who received a booking was significant, as it increased the risk of suspension for future matches.

Five Liverpool Players at Risk of Suspension

UEFA’s disciplinary rules state that players and team officials are suspended for the next match after accumulating three yellow cards (without receiving a red), as well as after each subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).

As a result, five Liverpool players face the possibility of missing the first leg of the quarter-finals if they receive a booking tonight and the team advances. Alexis Mac Allister has already served a suspension after reaching four yellow cards earlier in the tournament, while Ibrahima Konaté, Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott, and Virgil van Dijk are currently on two bookings each (WhoScored).

Additionally, six more Liverpool players have received one yellow card in the competition, though Joe Gomez—one of them—is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Avoiding Costly Bookings

If Liverpool’s defense faces as much pressure tonight as they did in Paris, Arne Slot may be nervously watching, hoping Konaté, Van Dijk, and Robertson avoid unnecessary bookings. With Gomez still out, Liverpool could be short on defensive options for the quarter-finals—assuming they progress. A potential center-back pairing of Jarell Quansah and Wataru Endo against Aston Villa or Club Brugge isn’t out of the question.

On a positive note, if Liverpool advance without any additional yellow cards, those with one or fewer bookings can breathe easier, as all prior cautions are wiped after the quarter-finals.

Ideally, Liverpool would have been in a strong enough position to rest players at risk of suspension. However, after facing 27 shots in Paris, taking a lead back to Anfield is already an advantage. Now, the priority is to get the job done at home without losing key players for the next round.