As Liverpool prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in a heavyweight Champions League quarter-final, most pundits are casting the Reds as underdogs. The contrast in domestic form is stark: PSG are cruising toward another Ligue 1 title, while Liverpool's season has been a turbulent struggle. Yet, history has a funny way of repeating itself at Anfield, especially in Europe.

Vladimir Smicer, a hero of Liverpool's legendary 2005 comeback in Istanbul, is backing his old club to defy the odds once more. Speaking ahead of the tie, Smicer offered a candid prediction. "I think we will lose in Paris, but the goal difference won't be big," he said. "Paris look really strong at the moment, but we were qualified for a reason... to qualify for the next round, it’s going to be Liverpool."

His confidence isn't just blind faith. Smicer knows what it's like to be part of a Liverpool side that conquers Europe against the backdrop of a difficult domestic campaign. The parallels to Rafa Benitez's 2005 squad, which won the Champions League after finishing fifth in the Premier League, are impossible to ignore. This current team, with the famous Anfield atmosphere awaiting in the second leg, will be hoping to channel that same defiant spirit.

While PSG possess world-class talent and are the current holders, Liverpool's European pedigree and capacity for magical nights under the lights make this a tie that is far from decided. As Smicer's belief suggests, writing off the Reds in this competition is always a dangerous game.