Paris Saint-Germain ended Liverpool’s European campaign with a 4-0 aggregate victory, as Ousmane Dembélé struck twice in the second leg at Anfield to seal the quarter-final tie. The French champions, unbeaten away from home this season, held firm after a spirited start from Arne Slot’s side, who saw a penalty decision controversially overturned and lost forward Hugo Ekitiké to a suspected Achilles injury.
Liverpool, trailing 2-0 from the first leg in Paris, pressed aggressively and created several chances in the early stages. Alexander Isak headed a Dominik Szoboszlai corner straight at goalkeeper Matvey Safonov for the hosts’ first shot on target of the tie. Yet it was PSG who nearly struck first when Dembélé blazed over from six yards after a quick throw-in. The goal remained elusive for Liverpool, and when Ekitiké was stretchered off, Mohamed Salah entered to a rapturous reception.
Despite dominating possession and registering 21 attempts to PSG’s 12, Liverpool could not find a breakthrough. Isak, making his first start in four months, was replaced at half-time by Cody Gakpo, who forced a save from Safonov. A potential penalty for handball against Joao Neves was initially awarded then overturned after a VAR review, leaving Anfield frustrated. With 18 minutes remaining, Dembélé silenced the crowd by latching onto Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cross and finishing clinically into the bottom corner.
The win was sealed in stoppage time when substitute Bradley Barcola set up Dembélé for his second, a low shot beyond Alisson. The result means Liverpool exit the Champions League in the quarter-finals for the second successive season against PSG. Before the match, a minute’s silence was held for the 97 victims of the Hillsborough disaster, with both teams wearing black armbands. Manager Arne Slot used his programme notes to call for the introduction of a Hillsborough Law, noting the Labour government had promised one before being elected.
