Liverpool's Champions League journey came to an end after Paris Saint-Germain overturned a first-leg deficit and held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s side suffered a crushing setback as Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones saw their spot-kicks saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, while PSG converted all their penalties to secure progression.
On the night, Luis Enrique’s men claimed a 1-0 victory, with Ousmane Dembélé’s early goal canceling out Harvey Elliott’s late winner from the first leg in Paris.
Dembélé struck after just 11 minutes, swinging momentum in PSG’s favor despite a strong start from Liverpool. The visitors dominated the first half, but Liverpool responded after the break, applying sustained pressure without finding a breakthrough.
Despite their second-half dominance, the Reds couldn't capitalize, and PSG held firm to force extra time. The tension ultimately led to penalties, where the French side showed their composure to book their place in the next round.
Adding to Liverpool’s woes, they now face a defensive crisis ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, with both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konaté forced off due to injury.
Key Moments from a Dramatic Night:
- Liverpool eliminated as PSG win on penalties
- Donnarumma the hero, saving from Nunez and Jones in the shootout
- 108' SAVE! Alisson denies Dembélé to keep Liverpool alive
- EXTRA TIME: Tied on aggregate after two legs (Liverpool 1-1 PSG)
- 74' INJURY! Alexander-Arnold limps off with a suspected ankle issue
- 63' CHANCE! Liverpool dominate after halftime but fail to convert
- 11' GOAL! Dembélé stuns Anfield to level the tie
Manager Reactions:
Luis Enrique (PSG): “Both teams deserved to go through. In two legs, if you’re not at your best in key moments, you can be eliminated. We suffered in the first leg, but tonight we showed great personality. Football is like that—sometimes it gives, sometimes it takes.”
Arne Slot (Liverpool): “One of the best games I’ve ever been part of. We threw everything at them but just didn’t get the luck. The margins were razor-thin.”
Van Dijk on the Result:
The Liverpool captain was blunt in his post-match assessment: “We were much better than in Paris, but that’s football. We’re out on penalties, and that’s the reality.”
With Liverpool’s European dream over, attention now turns to Sunday’s Carabao Cup final, where they will look to bounce back against Newcastle