Liverpool vs PSG Report
Scorer: Dembele 12’
Penalties scored: Salah; Vitinha, Ramos, Dembele, Doue
Penalties missed: Nunez, Jones
Paris Saint-Germain secured a dramatic 4-1 penalty shootout victory over Liverpool at Anfield, reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time under Luis Enrique.
The triumph marked PSG’s first-ever shootout success in European competition, as they overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to eliminate the Reds in thrilling fashion.
Liverpool Start Strong but PSG Land the First Blow
After controversially escaping Paris with a 1-0 aggregate lead, Arne Slot’s Liverpool side wasted no time asserting themselves at Anfield.
The Reds displayed more attacking intent in the opening 10 minutes than in the entire first leg, with Nuno Mendes forced into an outstanding block to deny Mohamed Salah, who later weaved his way into the box before dragging a separate effort wide.
Despite Liverpool’s early dominance, PSG struck first to wipe out the aggregate deficit. Ousmane Dembélé linked up superbly with Bradley Barcola, and while Ibrahima Konaté initially intercepted Barcola’s pass, the ball fortuitously deflected back into Dembélé’s path. The French winger made no mistake, slotting past Alisson to stun the Anfield crowd.
Konaté attempted to make amends with a powerful long-range strike, but Gianluigi Donnarumma parried it away.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s defensive frailties remained evident, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s curling effort took a deflection off Ryan Gravenberch before sailing narrowly over the bar.
Liverpool Pile on the Pressure But Can’t Find a Breakthrough
Liverpool came out for the second half with renewed intensity, and they thought they had drawn level when Dominik Szoboszlai found the net, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside.
The hosts continued to threaten, with Donnarumma producing a stunning one-handed save to keep out Luis Díaz’s header from an Alexis Mac Allister corner.
The Argentine’s deliveries caused chaos in the PSG defence, with another set-piece leading to Salah’s close-range attempt, which was brilliantly cleared off the line by Kvaratskhelia.
The Reds went even closer when Jarell Quansah’s diving header crashed against the woodwork following Andrew Robertson’s free-kick, though the effort would not have counted due to an offside call.
While PSG struggled to gain any real foothold after the break, Kvaratskhelia remained a danger, sending a speculative right-footed effort just over the crossbar. With neither side able to find a winner in normal time, the match headed into extra time.
Extra Time Provides Little as Penalties Loom
The additional 30 minutes saw PSG create the best openings, with Lucas Beraldo heading inches wide from a Kvaratskhelia cross before Désiré Doué narrowly missed the target.
However, neither side could break the deadlock, sending the tie to penalties—an area where Liverpool held a historically strong record.
Liverpool had won four of their five previous shootouts in UEFA competition, while PSG had lost their only European shootout against Rangers in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup.
PSG Prevail as Donnarumma Denies Liverpool
The shootout immediately swung in PSG’s favour when Donnarumma saved Darwin Núñez’s opening penalty. With Curtis Jones also failing to convert, Doué stepped up to seal the victory, sending the French champions into the quarter-finals.
PSG Set Up Quarter-Final Clash as Liverpool Exit Europe
With this victory, PSG advance to the last eight, where they will face either Club Brugge or Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s European dream comes to an end in heart-wrenching fashion, as they now shift their focus back to domestic competitions.
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