- PSG overcame Liverpool after a dramatic penalty shootout
- Despite pressure, Liverpool couldn't capitalize on key opportunities
- PSG showed maturity under Luis Enrique
Liverpool’s hopes of advancing in the Champions League were dashed after a dramatic penalty shootout loss to a superb Paris Saint-Germain side at Anfield.
PSG, who were tasked with overturning a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, showcased their maturity under coach Luis Enrique, eliminating a Liverpool team widely considered as tournament favorites.
Ousmane Dembele’s early goal set the tone for PSG’s comeback, with Liverpool struggling to break down the French side, while PSG remained a constant threat throughout the match.
PSG’s two-legged victory was well earned, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as the hero in the shootout. He saved penalties from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones, allowing Desire Doue to score the winning spot-kick in front of jubilant PSG supporters.
Liverpool began the match with a fast start, aiming to extend their first-leg advantage. Mohamed Salah came close twice in front of the Kop, which was brimming with anticipation.
While Liverpool pushed forward, PSG’s lethal attacking force was always poised to punish them on the counter-attack, and it only took 12 minutes for that to happen. A simple cross from Bradley Barcola exposed a defensive lapse between Alisson and Ibrahima Konate, with the defender inadvertently knocking the ball away from the goalkeeper, allowing Dembele to score from close range.
PSG had other chances but failed to capitalize, with Alisson making a crucial save at the feet of Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia firing off target when in a good position.
Liverpool applied sustained pressure after the break but struggled to break down PSG’s resolute defense. Gianluigi Donnarumma made a stunning save to deny Luis Diaz’s header, while substitute Jarell Quansah hit the post, and Dominik Szoboszlai had a goal ruled out for offside.
PSG were by far the better team in extra time, with Alisson making another exceptional save from Dembele. Eventually, Liverpool’s fate was sealed in the penalty shootout.
The Liverpool players collapsed in disappointment as the tension and drama of this Champions League tie played out in front of a raucous Anfield crowd. It was a tie that tested every emotion of European football, and while Liverpool played better in defeat than they did during their victory in Paris, they were left to rue missed chances and the heroics of Donnarumma in the shootout.
For Liverpool, this defeat is a major setback in a season that had seen them dominate both the Premier League and Champions League up until this point. Their challenge now is to recover quickly, with a Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United looming on Sunday. However, this loss will sting deeply, as Liverpool had expectations of advancing far beyond the last 16 in the competition.
PSG’s fearless approach at Anfield demonstrated how their shift from a star-driven squad to a more balanced and thoughtful team is paying off. Under Luis Enrique, they played with determination and refused to take a backward step, despite losing the first leg in Paris. They ultimately triumphed on penalties, joining Manchester City in feeling the growing strength of a team that is becoming a serious contender for the Champions League title.
The era of big-name stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar has passed, and PSG is now built around a younger, more cohesive unit. Dembele is realizing his full potential, and the addition of Georgian winger Kvaratskhelia gives PSG added depth in attack.
With Donnarumma in goal, they had a goalkeeper capable of repeating his penalty shootout heroics from the Euro 2020 final, sending Liverpool out and securing a landmark win for PSG. Despite a mixed night that saw him at fault for Harvey Elliott’s goal in the first leg, Donnarumma proved to be the difference maker in the end.
