Paris Saint-Germain secured their spot in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after defeating Liverpool in a tense penalty shootout at Anfield. The French side won 4-1 on penalties following a 1-0 victory in regular time, which leveled the tie 1-1 on aggregate.
PSG Takes Early Control
Luis Enrique’s PSG arrived at Anfield knowing they needed to score early to gain control of the tie. Ousmane Dembele delivered exactly that in the 12th minute with a well-taken goal, giving the visitors a crucial 1-0 lead.
Despite Liverpool and PSG sharing nearly equal possession throughout the first half, the Reds struggled to capitalize on their opportunities:
- Liverpool managed 10 attempts but only 1 shot on target
- PSG converted 4 of their 7 shots on target
- The Reds trailed at halftime, a stark contrast to their performance in the first leg
Second Half Stalemate and Extra Time
The second half continued with balanced possession but Liverpool couldn’t find the equalizer despite creating more chances:
- Liverpool recorded 8 shots with 2 on target
- PSG failed to hit the target with any of their 3 attempts
- Both managers made tactical substitutions heading into extra time
Neither team could break the deadlock during extra time, with both sides creating half-chances but lacking the finishing touch to avoid penalties.
Penalty Shootout Heartbreak
The penalty shootout proved decisive:
- Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool’s first penalty
- PSG’s Vitinha, Goncalo Ramos, Dembele, and Desire Doue all converted their penalties
- Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones had their penalties saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma
- PSG advanced to face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the next round
Standout Performances
For Liverpool:
- Alisson (8.5/10): Made seven saves and two high claims but couldn’t stop any penalties
- Ibrahima Konate (7.5/10): Composed defensively with five clearances, two interceptions and one block
- Virgil van Dijk (7.5/10): Won six duels while making three tackles, one clearance and one interception
- Mohamed Salah (7.5/10): Played the entire 120 minutes, scored in the shootout and created two key passes
For PSG:
- Gianluigi Donnarumma: Emerged as the hero, saving two crucial penalties in the shootout
- Ousmane Dembele: Scored the decisive goal and converted his penalty with confidence
What’s Next for Liverpool?
Liverpool must now focus on their Premier League title challenge after exiting the Champions League. The Reds will be disappointed not to have capitalized on their first-leg advantage, but still have domestic silverware to play for this season.
This defeat marks a significant setback in Liverpool’s European campaign, with penalty misses from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones proving costly in what was otherwise a closely contested tie across both legs.
Ready to see how Liverpool responds to this setback? Follow their upcoming Premier League fixtures to see if they can bounce back from Champions League disappointment.