Liverpool manager Arne Slot described Paris Saint-Germain as one of the strongest teams in Europe ahead of their highly anticipated Champions League last-16 first leg in France tonight (Live on RTÉ2/Player from 7.30pm).
The Premier League leaders, who topped the Champions League table after the new eight-game league phase, travel to in-form PSG with the task of handing the French champions their first defeat since November.
Slot said that Liverpool had to embrace big games, and that he was looking forward to facing a team with a similar style to his own.
"We could only face PSG or Benfica and anyone who watches football knows we would probably have preferred to face Benfica," the Reds boss said.
"If you play for Liverpool, you want to play in the big games. We have to accept the draw and both teams have a tough fixture.
"PSG is one of the strongest teams in Europe, I think everyone agrees. [The tie] could happen in the old format too.
"It is a great fixture to look forward to. Both teams have scored a lot of goals, like to have the ball. There are a lot of similarities."
Forward Cody Gakpo remains a significant doubt for the match having missed training after picking up a knock, although he has travelled with the team to give him a chance to prove his fitness.
The Netherlands international, Liverpool's second-highest scorer this season, has been struggling with an ankle problem which has restricted him to just 39 minutes in two substitute appearances in the last four matches.
"He was close to being ready to play again but unfortunately yesterday he had to block a shot and he felt a bit of pain again," said Slot.
"We brought him with us to judge how if he can be part of the squad but it will be a close call."
PSG v Liverpool will be live on @rte2 & @rteplayer from 7.30pm tonight @Paul_Corry and Richie Towell have been running the rule over what is shaping up to be a mouth-watering contest #PSGLIV #LIV #UCL
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Slot, whose side face Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, played down praise from his PSG counterpart Luis Enrique, who has labelled Liverpool one of the best teams in Europe.
"My thoughts aren't on these things. My thoughts are on PSG, then Southampton and then the second leg," he said.
"It is a nice compliment to get but the best team in Europe has to win the Champions League. We are far away from that with a very difficult game tomorrow and then if we get through, for the rest of the competition, because we have seen the draw.
"I think the best team in Europe at the moment is still Real Madrid as they won this competition last season. Someone else can say something different but, for us, we first have to win it before we can say it."
Likewise, the 46-year-old coach was full of praise for the Spanish manager and PSG's top scorer Ousmane Dembele, who has netted 26 times in 33 games across all competitions this season.
"Luis Enrique has done a lot of things here very well. He created a team that I assume he is happy with, in terms of individuals and collectively," Slot said.
"[Dembele] brings quality to the team. Both teams have attackers in great form, scoring a lot of goals. This team was in the semi-finals last season and in my opinion, this team is even better."
