Liverpool’s hopes of securing a treble this season came to a disappointing end as they were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) following a penalty shootout at Anfield on Tuesday, March 11.
Liverpool’s Champions League Dream Ends in Penalty Heartbreak
The Reds entered the second leg of their Round-of-16 tie with a slender 1-0 advantage from their victory at Parc des Princes on March 5. Arne Slot’s men showed attacking intent in the opening minutes at Anfield, looking to build on their aggregate lead.
However, their plans were derailed when Ousmane Dembele capitalized on a defensive error by Ibrahima Konate in the 12th minute, leveling the tie. Despite Liverpool’s dominance and increased pressure in the second half, they were repeatedly denied by an outstanding Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG goal.
The scoreline remained unchanged after 120 minutes of play, sending the match to penalties. Donnarumma proved decisive in the shootout, saving spot-kicks from Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez to secure PSG’s place in the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win on penalties.
Mohamed Salah, who has been in excellent form this season, struggled to make an impact in either leg of the tie. The Egyptian forward was effectively contained by PSG left-back Nuno Mendes in both matches, limiting his usual influence.
After the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his team’s performance despite the elimination:
"It was the best game of football I have ever been involved in. It was an incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week. Maybe we ran out of luck because the margins were so small."
"We played the perfect game, except for scoring a goal. It was similar to Paris last week, when they played the perfect game and didn’t score. And then in extra time, they were maybe a little bit better."
Fan Reactions
The defeat triggered strong reactions from fans on social media:
- "Salah just lost his ballon d’or ????."
- "Salah ain’t winning Ballon d’Or now."
- "The better team won. Liverpool can’t complain."
- "PSG deserved their qualification. Congratulations to them."
- "They wrote PSG off ????. We told them they got lucky last week."
- "PSG delivered a stunning performance at Anfield! They deserved to go through."
The loss means Liverpool’s pursuit of a treble this season has come to an end. However, Slot’s team still has opportunities for silverware, with a Carabao Cup final against Newcastle coming up on Sunday, March 16, and their strong position in the Premier League title race.
What’s Next for Liverpool?
With Champions League aspirations now over, Liverpool must quickly regroup and focus on their remaining competitions. The immediate priority is Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, where they’ll have the opportunity to secure their first trophy under Arne Slot’s management.
The Reds remain in contention for the Premier League title, and domestic success could still make this a memorable season despite European disappointment.
Don’t miss Liverpool’s chance to bounce back this Sunday as they face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final – the perfect opportunity to show their championship mentality and resilience after this setback.