Liverpool face a huge task to reach the Champions League semi-finals after a humbling 2-0 defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.
Desire Doue’s deflected opener and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s composed second punished poor Liverpool defending in a one-sided contest as the visitors suffered a fourth straight away defeat for the first time since April 2012. “When we pressed them high we were ripped apart,” manager Arne Slot said. “The second half of the game for us was more about surviving.”
PSG dominated possession and chances, though the scoreline could have been larger if not for wasteful finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Liverpool’s Giorgi Mamardashvili, who denied Doue, Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi.
Luis Enrique’s side were also frustrated by VAR decisions: a referee penalty call for Ibrahima Konate’s challenge on Warren Zaire-Emery was overturned, and the officials declined to penalise Konate for a separate push on Nuno Mendes.
Liverpool managed just three shots in the match and none on target, a dismal return ahead of next week’s second leg at Anfield. Slot switched to a back five and left Mohamed Salah on the bench — the Egypt forward an unused substitute only two weeks after confirming he will leave at season’s end — but the tactical change failed to contain PSG’s attacking tempo.
The first goal came when Doue’s shot took a deflection and wrong-footed the goalkeeper. The second arrived after Ryan Gravenberch failed to track Kvaratskhelia, who collected a pass from Joao Gomes, cut inside and slotted home with composure.
Slot introduced Alexander Isak for his first appearance since December to try to spark a response, but Liverpool continued to be cut open late on and never looked likely to turn the tie around on the night.
Having already exited domestic cup competitions and with their Premier League title defence effectively over, Liverpool’s route to silverware now looks severely jeopardised.
Slot reaction
“We’re lucky to only lose 2-0 as they had more chances than they scored, although the first goal felt harsh as we didn’t give anything away,” Slot told TNT Sports. “It’s very good we’re still in the tie. We can bring them to Anfield with how much a difference Anfield can make for us. We wanted to create much more but there wasn’t a lot to create for us. They were having the ball with incredible tempo all over the place. We tried to press them high. Sometimes it was working but lots of times they were able to play through us. When we went man-for-man they played the ball in behind us. When we were in a low block we hardly conceded although the goal was when we were in a low block. I stood here similar last season and although we won 1-0, the game was exactly the same. But the game at Anfield was completely different, so we’re happy we’re in the tie.”
Player ratings
PSG: Safonov (7), Hakimi (7), Marquinhos (7), Pacho (8), Nuno Mendes (7), Zaire-Emery (7), Vitinha (8), Joao Neves (8), Doue (8), Dembele (7), Kvaratskhelia (8). Subs: Lee Kang-In (6), Hernandez (n/a).
Liverpool: Mamardashvili (8), Gomez (5), Konate (5), Van Dijk (5), Frimpong (6), Kerkez (6), Szoboszlai (6), Gravenberch (5), Mac Allister (5), Wirtz (6), Ekitike (5). Subs: Robertson (6), Gakpo (6), Jones (6), Isak (6), Nyoni (n/a).
Player of the Match: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Key facts and Opta stats
– Liverpool’s 16th defeat of the season in all competitions.
– Liverpool have lost four away games in a row in all competitions for the first time since Feb–Apr 2012.
– This is the third time this season Liverpool have lost three consecutive matches; it’s the first campaign since 1953/54 with three runs of three-plus defeats.
– Liverpool failed to register a shot on target in a Champions League match for the first time since November 2020 (vs Atalanta).
– This was Liverpool’s 34th Champions League knockout game since 2017/18, and only the second in which Mohamed Salah didn’t play (after the 2018/19 semi-final second leg vs Barcelona).
What’s next?
Liverpool must dramatically improve at Anfield next week to overturn the deficit and keep their Champions League hopes alive.