Paris Saint-Germain secured a well-known win at Anfield to e book their place within the Champions League quarter-finals at Liverpool’s expense.
Trailing 1-0 from the primary leg within the French capital, the guests levelled issues up early on as Ousmane Dembele capitalised on a mix-up on the again.
However an exhilarating contest supplied no additional objectives, bringing a few goalless interval of extra-time earlier than a penalty shootout.
And was PSG who emerged victorious, Gianluigi Donnarumma saving spot-kicks from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones to determine the tie.
How the sport unfolded
A rocking Anfield demanded a quick begin from the hosts, they usually obliged as Mohamed Salah pressured an unimaginable block on the road from Nuno Mendes earlier than curling agonisingly extensive of the publish after bursting into the field.
However, having been denied the luck they deserved within the first leg, PSG obtained an enormous slice of it with 12 minutes gone as Ibrahima Konate’s try to chop out a Bradley Barcola cross inadvertently arrange an open aim for Dembele to faucet into.
And the early aim didn’t quell both facet’s ambition, with Konate testing the shaky Donnarumma from distance earlier than Diogo Jota headed a nook over.
PSG, in the meantime, discovered Alisson to as soon as once more be their nemesis, the Brazilian brilliantly stopping Barcola from rounding him after which pouncing on a free Dembele contact to stop any shot being taken from a one-on-one scenario.
An totally breathless half then got here to an finish with Ryan Gravenberch getting an vital block on a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike from distance that appeared goalbound.
As had been the case in Paris, Liverpool had been higher capable of restrict PSG’s forwards within the second interval, solely this time they mixed it with carrying menace of their very own.
Solely a high quality Donnarumma save from a Diaz header and Kvaratskhelia’s block on the road from Salah prevented the hosts from making it depend after a slim offside had denied Dominik Szoboszlai a aim.
They then twice went shut by way of substitute Jarell Quansah, who had changed the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, the defender heading over from a nook earlier than nodding a free-kick onto the upright.
That failure to discover a winner meant further time, which PSG began the brighter with each Lucas Beraldo and Want Doue sending pictures simply extensive.
However their robust end didn’t produce a aim, leaving the tie to be determined by penalties.
And it was there that Donnarumma emerged because the hero, pulling off high quality stops from Nunez and Jones whereas PSG slotted all 4 of their spot-kicks.
For all that this sport introduced disappointment for Liverpool, they certainly shouldn’t be too down over failing to safe a Premier League and Champions League double in Arne Slot’s first season in cost.
The Dutchman has barely had an opportunity to place his stamp on this squad, and its weaknesses had been underlined over the course of two legs in opposition to a PSG outfit that characterize the very elite stage the Reds are striving for.
The Parisians’ high quality in assault appeared a notch above Slot’s facet, whereas their further sprinkling of sophistication in midfield additionally advised at instances.
The job now for Liverpool is to plan a summer time window that may bridge that hole.
After all, the occasions of Tuesday night time have not simply ended Liverpool’s Champions League hopes, they might even have an enormous say within the Carabao Cup closing on Sunday.
Not solely did the Reds put a draining interval of additional time into their legs forward of travelling to Wembley, in addition they misplaced each Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate to harm.
The hope can be that the latter’s problem was solely cramp after a gruelling match, in any other case it is going to be a makeshift defence taking to the pitch below the arch.
Both means, Newcastle could properly really feel they may have the bodily edge when the 2 sides meet this weekend.
As a lot as Liverpool can be desperately looking for areas they will enhance off the again of this end result, they need to additionally acknowledge how good their opponents had been.
Who would have thought that PSG might eliminate the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar and find yourself being a greater staff?
However that’s undoubtedly the case, with Luis Enrique’s facet now combining graft and craft in the way in which all really prime groups do.
There is not a facet on the market who will need to face them afterward on this competitors.
Take a look at the participant scores for Liverpool 0-1 PSG right here.
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