Paris Saint-Germain defeated Liverpool 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Paris. Multiple reports indicate PSG won the tie 4-0 on aggregate to advance to the Champions League semi-finals. PSG's first-leg goals were scored by Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, according to major media, and their second-leg goals were scored by Ousmane Dembélé in the 72nd minute and added time.
Liverpool's performance across the two legs was statistically poor. In the first leg in Paris, Liverpool had 28% possession and zero shots on target, major media reported. 18 in Paris, highlighting a stark contrast in attacking threat.
Mohamed Salah waved goodbye to the Anfield crowd after playing his last Champions League game for Liverpool, multiple reports said, as the team suffered 15 defeats in all competitions this season under Arne Slot, their worst since 2014-15. Key incidents influenced the outcome, including a controversial VAR decision. Liverpool had a penalty awarded for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister overturned by VAR in the second leg at Anfield, according to major media.
Arne Slot started Alexander Isak in the second leg at Anfield for the first time since December, but he was substituted at halftime after only five touches, multiple reports indicated. Mohamed Salah was benched for Jeremie Frimpong in Liverpool's lineup, and Alexander Isak started on the bench for Liverpool. PSG's form against English clubs has been formidable.
PSG are unbeaten in seven straight Champions League matches against English opposition, winning five. Research indicates PSG and Liverpool have three wins each in their previous UEFA Champions League clashes, with PSG winning last season's Round of 16 tie against Liverpool on penalties. In that tie, Liverpool had four shots across two legs while PSG had 18.
PSG defender Achraf Hakimi planted a PSG flag in the centre circle at Anfield after their penalty shootout victory over Liverpool last season, major media reported. Both teams had contrasting Champions League campaigns this season. PSG swept aside Chelsea in the Round of 16, winning 8-2 on aggregate, research shows.
In the UEFA Champions League league phase, PSG won 4-0 vs Atalanta BC, 2-1 at FC Barcelona, 7-2 at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, lost 1-2 at home to FC Bayern Munich, beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-3, drew 0-0 with Athletic Club, and lost 1-2 at Sporting Clube de Portugal, finishing 11th with 14 points. Liverpool, meanwhile, finished third in the league phase, four points better off than PSG, after results including a 3-2 home win over Atlético de Madrid, a 0-1 loss at Galatasaray, a 5-1 win in Eintracht Frankfurt, a 1-0 win vs Real Madrid CF, a 1-4 home loss to PSV Eindhoven, a 1-0 win vs FC Internazionale Milano, a 3-0 win at Olympique de Marseille, and a 6-0 home win over Qarabag FK. PSG have progressed against Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal in knockout matches since the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign.
Liverpool's broader struggles this season have been significant. Liverpool lost 4-0 to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals before the PSG tie, major media reported. They beat Fulham 2-0 in the Premier League between the two legs against PSG.
Arne Slot's position at Liverpool is under scrutiny due to poor campaign results, research indicates, as the team lost 2-1 against Brighton in the Premier League and 4-0 against Man City in the FA Cup since beating Galatasaray in the Champions League Round of 16. PSG entered the tie with preparation advantages. PSG had a weekend off before the second leg at Anfield after the French league agreed to their request, multiple reports said.
Ibrahima Konate should have been stronger in the duel leading to PSG's opening goal in the first leg.
French authorities postponed PSG's league game scheduled between the two legs of the quarter-final. After overcoming Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, PSG beat Nice 4-0 and Toulouse 3-1, research shows. Historical context adds perspective to the result.
Reigning Champions League champions have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in four of the last five seasons, with Real Madrid in 2022/23 as the exception, research indicates. Liverpool are European champions in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005, and 2019. The match logistics and lineups were set for the quarter-finals.
The first leg was played in Paris on Wednesday with kickoff at 21:00 at Parc Des Princes, and the second leg was on 14 April with kickoff at 21:00. PSG's starting lineup was Safonov - Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes - Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves - Doue, Dembele, Kvaratschelia. Liverpool's starting lineup was Mamardasjvili - Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez - Gravenberch, Mac Allister - Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Wirtz - Ekitike.
Liverpool faced disciplinary concerns ahead of the tie. Three Liverpool players (Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones) are one yellow card away from missing a potential Champions League quarter-final second leg, major media reported. Pundits reacted strongly to the outcome.
According to major media, Christophe Dugarry described the tie as a massacre and said Liverpool would arrive terrified, with PSG certain to easily defeat them and run over Liverpool, adding he was convinced PSG would easily advance and describing Liverpool as catastrophically bad with players who do not play together as a team, noting the colossal difference between the sides and that PSG would decide the quarter-final in the first match. Dugarry added that Liverpool and the reigning Champions League champion cannot be compared, with Liverpool playing at a snail's pace while PSG plays with intensity and mental strength. Christophe Dugarry played for clubs including Bordeaux, Milan, Barcelona, and Marseille during his active career, made 55 appearances for the national team, and now works as an expert and commentator.
There are question marks about Liam Rosenior's suitability in his role after PSG's win over Chelsea, research indicates. Unanswered questions remain about specific match details. The specific reasons VAR gave for overturning the penalty awarded to Liverpool for the foul on Alexis Mac Allister in the second leg have not been disclosed, and the official attendance figure for the second leg at Anfield is unknown.
Disciplinary actions taken against players or staff during or after the matches, detailed financial implications for Liverpool after their Champions League exit, and specific tactical adjustments Arne Slot made between the legs that failed are also not confirmed. The aggregate scoreline sparked debate over Liverpool's competitiveness in the second leg. Some observers argued Liverpool was dominant and created many chances in the second leg at Anfield, while others contended the 4-0 aggregate scoreline was fair and PSG outclassed Liverpool overall in that match.
This disagreement affects whether Liverpool put up a competitive fight or were thoroughly outplayed in the decisive match. According to major media, Mark Clattenburg described Liverpool as deserving a penalty for the challenge on Mac Allister. According to major media, Steven Gerrard described Ibrahima Konate as needing to be stronger in the duel leading to PSG's opening goal in the first leg.
The result has significant implications for Liverpool's future, with manager Arne Slot under pressure after a season marked by heavy defeats and European exit. Tactical analysis will focus on Liverpool's inability to convert chances and PSG's clinical efficiency, as the French side continues a strong run in the competition.