Liverpool beaten by dominant PSG in Champions League quarter-final first leg

PSG entered the match having triumphed in their previous four two-legged encounters against English clubs, notably demolishing Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the prior round, so Arne Slot’s team were understandably cautious upon reaching Paris.

In the end, those concerns proved well-founded as Desire Doue opened the scoring after only 11 minutes.

Ousmane Dembele skilfully navigated past the Liverpool backline before setting up his fellow Frenchman, whose effort deflected heavily and sailed over Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Many anticipated a torrent of goals thereafter, yet Liverpool held firm in their organisation at the back.

That said, Mamardashvili was forced to produce a couple of crucial stops, thwarting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Doue to ensure the score stayed at 1-0 at halftime.

Slot’s players generated a scarce chance of their own post-interval when Hugo Ekitike fired high and wide, prior to Dembele wasting a prime chance to extend PSG’s advantage by missing Nuno Mendes’ low cross.

The second strike arrived in the 65th minute, thanks to Kvaratskhelia.

The Georgian received an excellent pass from Joao Neves and smoothly entered the penalty area prior to slotting home from near range beyond Mamardashvili.

Liverpool appeared headed for a three-goal deficit when official José María Sánchez awarded a penalty, ruling that Ibrahima Konate had fouled Warren Zaire-Emery. Luckily for the Liverpool centre-back, VAR overruled the call.

Luis Enrique’s squad pushed to inflate the margin late on, with Dembele striking the post’s exterior, though PSG ultimately accepted a two-goal victory.

Though Slot’s squad heads back to Merseyside deflated, they still harbour hopes of reaching the semi-finals via the return fixture at Anfield next week.

Nevertheless, suffering a fifth loss in six away outings paints a bleak picture, amid a campaign that keeps falling short of expectations.

Conversely, this result propels PSG’s title defence forward, marking a fifth straight victory in all tournaments.