Match reportLiverpool lose 2-0 at PSG in first leg of UCL quarter-final
Wednesday night’s game at Parc des Princes was settled in the holders’ favour by goals in either half by Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Doue scored early on, with the aid of a deflection, while Kvaratskhelia improved PSG’s position in the tie further by striking in minute 65.
The Reds – for whom Alexander Isak returned as a late substitute – must now overturn a two-goal deficit at Anfield next Tuesday to progress to a semi-final against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
Team
Jeremie Frimpong and Alexis Mac Allister returned in place of Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah as Arne Slot made two changes to Liverpool’s starting XI.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez (Robertson, 78), Wirtz (Gakpo, 78), Szoboszlai (Jones, 78), Mac Allister, Ekitike (Isak, 78), Frimpong (Nyoni, 90), Gravenberch.
Unused subs: Woodman, Misciur, Salah, Chiesa, Ngumoha.
First half
PSG enjoyed plenty of early possession but Liverpool – who lined up with three centre-backs – were comfortable until their early defensive efforts were undone by misfortune in minute 11.
The ball found its way to Doue from a Ryan Gravenberch tackle and the forward stepped inside to shoot. His attempt then took a huge deflection off Gravenberch and looped over Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The Reds responded to that setback positively and fashioned a few openings, with Frimpong speeding down the outside and delivering a cutback to the edge of the area, which Dominik Szoboszlai was unable to reach.
PSG’s attacking menace was always bubbling under, though, and a Kvaratskhelia pot-shot was batted away by Mamardashvili, before Liverpool’s goalkeeper made an outstanding save to deny Doue after the hosts had sprung up the pitch rapidly.
Mamardashvili was then required to make a regulation stop from Ousmane Dembele, who shot tamely, at the end of the first half.
Second half
Dembele spurned another chance to score when he fired Nuno Mendes’ cutback over the crossbar but, midway through the half, PSG did find their second goal.
A long spell of possession was accelerated by Joao Neves, who played a piercing pass down the inside-left channel, and Kvaratskhelia calmly took control prior to rounding Mamardashvili and slotting home.
It appeared likely to get worse for Liverpool when the referee awarded a penalty for an apparent foul by Ibrahima Konate on Neves, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review.
After Hugo Ekitike had failed to maximise the sight of goal afforded to him by Florian Wirtz’s driving run and pass, Slot made a quadruple substitution, with Isak among the players introduced.
But the next opportunity was PSG’s and Mamardashvili made another smart save from Achraf Hakimi’s hit.
Indeed, it was the hosts who finished the match the stronger, with Dembele rattling the post late on, and the Reds now need another famous Anfield European night next week in order to continue their journey in this season’s Champions League.